For high school musicians all across the state of Iowa, the third Saturday in October is usually either the best or worst day of the school year. Every third Saturday in October is All-State Auditions. Students from across the various schools have been working towards this day since before school started.
In regards to the audition process, the state of Iowa is split into seven districts based on school location. Since Pleasant Valley High School is located in the Southeast district, the Pleasant Valley band, orchestra, and choir all travel to Washington High School in Washington, Iowa to audition for the statewide festival.
After an early morning alarm buzz and a nerve-wracking drive down to the audition site, students arrive and start warming up for their auditions in one of two small gyms. There is an orchestra gym for all string players and a gym where all band and choir students go to warm up and anxiously await the results from their audition.
Auditioning for All-State is no easy process. Senior Charity Jensen says, “It has always been my dream to be in the All-State Choir, but when I got the chance to audition this year, I was really nervous and practiced every spare second I got. I can’t even describe the feeling I got when I found out I had finally accomplished what I set out to do.”
Shreya Khurjekar has been through many emotions with the All-State Audition process and what it requires. She says, “I was first alternate in my sophomore year, then not even recalled last year after having one of the best auditions I have ever had: both of which were extremely heartbreaking experiences.”
Khurjekar then explained the intensity of the process. “All-State is more than just an audition. It is a chance to show off everything you’ve learned as a musician from when you first picked up your instrument back in elementary school. I am now honored to have been chosen in the All-State Band this year, and I am so excited to participate in the festival. It is a dream come true and I can’t wait.”
After preparing for several months, each musician needs to go and sing or play in front of a judge regardless of what ensemble they are in. Choirs audition in quartets, while band and orchestra audition solo in a blind audition.
Below is a list of PV students selected as Iowa All-State Musicians or as alternates! Good work Spartans!
Choir: Madison Wells (3rd year), Alex Jungers (3rd year), Natalie Murphy (2nd year), Sophia Dahm (2nd year), Dalton Hout (2nd year), Christine Lyon (2nd year), John Mendelin (2nd year), Rece Vining (2nd year), Grace Almgren (1st year), Caden Bennion (1st year), Alex Boyd (1st year), Nikki Chang (1st year), Bradley Hamilton (1st year), Charity Jensen (1st year), Rachael Lyon (1st year), Maegan Neil (1st year), Brady Sexson (1st year), Ciyanna Wilson (1st year), Taze Wilson (1st year)
Band: Kaitlyn Ryan (2nd year), Shreya Khurjekar (1st year), Amulya Pillutla (1st year), Aditya Desai (2nd year), Nico Moralez (1st year, Aadil Manazir (1st year), Sam McGrath (2nd year), Alternates: Nick Kamp, Dilan Nair, Lindsay Davison, and Miranda Miller
Orchestra: Ruth Davidson (3rd year), Annie Warner (4th year), Dan Kim (1st year), Christina Li (2nd year), Daniela Rybarczyk (3rd year), Alyssa Paulson (2nd year), Connor Miller (2nd year)
The All-State Music Festival will take place on November 15,16, and 17th with the concert Saturday evening.
