For something that takes months to prepare, it only takes less than an hour for a band or orchestra member to put their musical talents on the line in hopes of making it into either Missouri’s All State Band or Missouri’s All State Orchestra.
All State is the group of specially selected high school students. The students first audition for the All Suburban Band/Orchestra which represents the district. If the students make that, they then move on to audition for All State Band/Orchestra.
“You just play a couple of excerpts [for the judges] and if you make it, then it’s one weekend in January and when you get there you tryout for seats and practice [during the] weekend,” Anna Prost, junior and double bassist for symphonic orchestra, said. “It’s like 19 hours in one weekend. It’s crazy.”
Students, like Prost, who auditioned for All State Orchestra, were required to play two scales and three excerpts for judges placed behind a screen. 15 students from KHS’s orchestras and two first alternates were chosen this year for All State. KHS had the most orchestra members from one school make it this year.
“To have such a good program here is a really big deal and to have so many kids make it from one school is unheard of,” Prost said.
KHS’s band was also successful at All State with eight students making it, the most band students at KHS to make All State.
“All State Band recognition is basically the highest honor or recognition you can get as an individual band student,” Jason Rekittke, symphonic band director, said. “There’s nothing better that you can achieve as an individual in the state.”
The process of auditioning for band students was similar to orchestra’s. Students were required to play music compiled from more than one technique book. There were several rounds for band auditions. If students trying out made it past every round, they were accepted into All State Band.
For both band and orchestra, it took months of preparing for All State.
“You just have to practice as much as possible,” Beth King, senior, and alto and tenor sax player for All State band, said. “I’ve been practicing this music about five months.”
The months of practice were for students to polish their music to perfection for the judges at All State.
“They worked very hard. It just shows that obviously there’s high expectations for the students,” Patrick Jackson, director of symphonic orchestra, said.
The following students from KHS’s orchestras made Missouri All State: Samantha Lord, Taylor Ramsaroop, Elisa Steele,Morgan Weidinger, Sarah Heuermann, Emma Kinsley, Charlie Longtine, Brett Shocker, Bryanna Gilbert, Emilee Graham, Jimmy McHugh, Madison Moll, Annamarie Phillips, Anna Prost, Toni Saputo-Bolding, Emily Trokey and Andie Barnett.
The following students from KHS’s bands made Missouri All State: Kate King, Beth King, Jess Grommet, Hannah Richardson, Ben Leible, Michael McBride and Carter Stephens.
