Multiple Hastings High student musicians performed on November 19th at All-State on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. All-State is a choir of around 400 kids from all over Nebraska. All of the students went through an audition process to make it into the choir.
Around a dozen Hastings students were accepted into All-State through auditions. The Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA) sponsored auditions for the Nebraska All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band, and Orchestra. The high school had 13 people qualify for Choir and four for the band. Sophomore choir student Lyndie Eddleman said their auditions were pretty straightforward.
“Our audition process was in the choir room at the high school. We went into the room and our choir director, Mr. Marquez, announced who we were to the recording and what part we would sing and we started to sing our audition,” Eddleman said.
“Depending on whether you’re auditioning vocally or on an instrument, you need play the audition materials that the NMEA organization puts on their website. The music for the auditions is available in the summer, but the actual auditions take place during the last week of September/first week of October,” senior band student Anna Johnson said.
The All-State Band played four compositions during its performance, “Gandalf” by Johan de Meij, “A Fraternal Prelude” by Gary Nash, “Carnaval!” by Julie Giroux, and “Peterloo Overture” by Malcolm Arnold. The All-State Choir sang seven songs, “Zadok the Priest”, “O Schone Nacht”, “La Muerte del Angel”, “The Trumpet Sounds Within-a My Soul”, “Ring Out Wild Bells”, “I am in Need of Music”, and “Let the River Run”.
All-State took place November 16th through the 18th. The students practiced at various sites around the campus. The choir practiced in a place called Kimball Hall and they started out with a few warm-ups, then through their songs. Practices usually last two to two and a half hours each. For auditions, Johnson practiced her scales and the audition materials from the NMEA website. Then she practiced the music they played at the concert.
This year is Eddleman’s first year being in the All-State choir.
“I think it was such a great opportunity to sing with so many other people who love singing just as much as I do. It has definitely made me want to try out again next year,” Eddleman said.
Johnson has been in the All-State band three times including this year, which is her last.
“I initially made the band on flute, but later found out that I had been selected as the Allstate piccolo player. I have been to Allstate 3 times; once for chorus and twice for band,” Johnson said.
All-State is a place to show off amazing talent and push musicians to better themselves and pursue music.
“You are mixed in with 400 amazing singers and it pushes you to get better every time you go to practice. It also is a great way to meet so many new friends, and everybody is so nice at All-state,” Eddleman said.
“Allstate is something that teaches you so much about yourself, music, and the ways that music affects everyone. It is one of the most beneficial things I have ever experienced. Not only do you feel accomplished as a musician, but you get to become closer to music and perform with people who feel the same way about music as you do. It sounds cheesy, but my experiences with Allstate have shaped who I am as a person drastically, and I am so grateful for that,” Johnson said.
