Here at Pleasant Valley, we have three amazing branches in our music department. The band, choir and orchestras are all growing and full of talented musicians. Each year, a very select few members of each branch are chosen to participate in the All-State Festival, a statewide gathering of music. While many students audition for All-State, relatively very few make the cut. The audition process is very intense, and some musicians are even recalled if the judges cannot decide. Auditions may include scales, sight-reading etudes and solos. Band and orchestra players must play all of their major scales. All musicians must sight-read etudes or excerpts–this means the students play or sing part of a song they have never seen before. There are also prepared solos the players must perform. While many students do not make it into All-State, some make it. The new All-Staters attend a festival in which they meet and practice with all of their peers from across the state of Iowa. Ultimately, mass band, choir and orchestras are formed. The students perform the songs they have been practicing in a unique, enormous concert. This year is no different. There are many returning members and even more excited auditionees in the All-State program. PV Band’s head director, Drew Anderson, explains the lineup: “We have a lot of students who auditioned this year. They are all talented musicians and we have some returners.” Many band members have reached the festival, but even more have been chosen from the choir. “The first time I auditioned I was really nervous, but now it’s my third year and I’m really excited,” returning soprano Megan Maloney says. While the pressure may be high, the honor is higher. Only the most hard-working and talented musicians have what it takes to be All-Staters. Orchestra director Robert Swinney explains that the orchestra is the toughest to make into because there are fewer positions open. Despite the difficulty, many PV students make the cut each year. Hopefully this year will be no different as our musicians make their way through the long All-State process.
