Being accepted as an All-State musician is among the highest honors a high school musician can receive. In November of 2024, students from Wilsonville High School participated in a series of auditions for the chance to play for OMEA All-State, run by the Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA) and hosted in January during MLK weekend.
All-State has been an annual event in Oregon for more than 60 years. This special event brings together all levels of schooling, including elementary, middle, and high school students in choirs, bands, orchestras, and jazz bands. They play together, rehearse, and perform with guest conductors.
When entering the All-state portal, there is an audition process where you submit information about yourself to the Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA). When you meet with the directors, you sing two scales, high and low, and then sing a piece of music to show you the various parts you can sing.
Sydney Cederberg auditioned for All-State as a junior choir singer this year. She says, “All-State is a good experience if you like doing choir, band, or orchestra. It’s like a vacation where you get to do what you love and become more advanced in your expertise.”
Having practiced with your instrument or voice can be very beneficial if you want to continue to explore the musical industry. One way to improve your skills is through doing All-State because it challenges you to try new things and venture out of your comfort zone.
Participating in an all-state choir, band, or orchestra allows students to work with renowned musical directors, conductors, and clinicians. These professionals bring a higher level of experience and expertise, helping students refine their techniques and expand their musical understanding. After practicing with the directors, all of the students gather together for a final cumulative performance to show off their special talent. Additionally, the performance showcases the progress of the young musicians.
Avani Patel, a sophomore band player, shares,“ I would say, learn your music, practice it, and then audition because you can also get in as an alternate as not everyone who is additionally selected goes. There are people selected as alternates to fill their spot if you aspire to get in putting that much effort into the excerpts and your audition will make a difference,” as her piece of advice towards future All-state incomers.
The experience of being part of an all-state ensemble can be incredibly rewarding. It will challenge you in new ways, and open your eyes to a visual idea of what you see yourself doing with music in the future. Additionally, the friendships and connections made during this time often last well beyond the event itself. Don’t be afraid to try out for All-State next year if you’re interested in enhancing your skills!