After months practicing and preparing for the All-State auditions, seniors David Todd, Joseph Cain, Michaela Horan, Nora Lees, Sean O’Donnell, and Timothy Dolan as well as juniors Dylan Anderson and James Dooley were selected to represent Lancer Nation in these ensembles.
Senior Joseph Cain scored the highest for tenor voice in the state.
“I hope to become a stronger musician,” Cain said. “I use these opportunities to learn as much as I can and become the best singer I can be.”
The New Hampshire All-State Music Festival consists of band, choir, and orchestra ensembles made up of students from all over the state. These students must go through auditions and the highest scoring students are put into the ensembles to prepare for a performance that will be April 4-6. A few students from Lancer Nation went through this process and qualified for these ensembles.
For some of these students, it was their first time auditioning but for others such as senior Nora Lees, they’ve auditioned multiple times.
“I’ve auditioned since freshman year but I didn’t make it,” Lees said. “I got in sophomore year and this is my third year doing it.”
The All-State concert consists of numerous performances that are worked on by each ensemble headed by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association.
“We all get together for two days and we work all day on the music,” senior Michaela Horan said. “At the end of two days there’s a concert where all of the groups perform their music.”
Junior Dylan Anderson has been playing guitar for 11 years and this was his first year auditioning for All-State.
“I spent a few weeks dedicated to practicing for the audition, however I had little expectations because I hadn’t done it before,” Anderson said. “I did it for the experience of auditioning as well.”
The All-State ensembles offer new musical experiences that wouldn’t be available at a high school level according to Lees.
“Playing in an All-State ensemble means I get difficult music and it gives me a challenge,” Lees said. “It’s really nice to play with musicians who really care and want to do their best. It always sounds so good and it’s so much fun.”
Being a part of these All-State Ensembles help musicians be more self-assured when doing performances.
“Even though I know I can play the music well, I’m always scared to take solos,” senior Sean O’Donnell said. “I think pushing myself to rehearse with tons of other musicians forces me to be more confident. And this confidence can even be applied to other things I’m interested in.”
All-State is a “great opportunity” for students, even if they don’t plan to pursue a career in music like Dooley.
“I’m hoping it’s something I’m able to keep in my life through college ensembles or student-led bands,” junior James Dooley said.
For aspiring musicians like Cain, making the All-State ensemble is a “big goal” while in high school.
“I always aspire to get involved in as many musical opportunities as possible for my own growth as a musician,” Cain said. “So I see All-State as a big achievement of my progress and where I can go in the future.”
Many students like Lees feel as though making it into an All-State ensemble is a big deal for those who have a passion for music.
“All-State was something I always wanted to do since it’s that goal that I wish a lot of high school students would want to strive for,” Lees said, “because [that means] you’re the best in the state and it’s something to be proud of.”
