Musical Madness at All-State
By Addison Frye
All-State music is by far one of the highest achievements a high school student interested in music can receive. The tryout process is long, the music is challenging, and the stress can be unbearable for many auditioners. However, for the few who put in countless hours of work, the All-State experience can be something that participants will always remember.
This year many Pierce students were accepted into the All-State ensembles. These students include senior Hadleigh Collison in the choir, sophomore trombone player Spencer Sindt in the jazz band, and finally sophomore trumpet player Payton Ebmeier and sophomore clarinet player Aubrie Zimmerman in the band.
“I'd say the best part of All-State is the great students and clinicians I got to work with. It is so fun to make music with musicians who have so much knowledge and experience. The worst part of All-State is definitely waiting for the results. It takes about a month after the audition to find out if you made it or not, which can feel like a long time,” Sindt says. “I am very proud of my 1st chair position this year in the jazz band. The All-State jazz band is a bit more selective than the other ensembles due to its smaller band size of around 20 members, so it was amazing to get my results and know my work paid off.”
The three days of the NMEA (Nebraska Music Education Association) All-State music held in Lincoln are filled with rehearsals that are around three hours each. Free time consists of concerts at the concert hall. There are always a couple hours everyday to roam around the convention center and check out the exhibits.
“I had so much fun, it was a great experience. The first day was super chaotic, but we got used to it for the remaining days,” Ebmeier says. “Our director was the funniest man I've ever met, I definitely learned a lot from him.”
The All-State ensembles presented final concerts at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 22.
