Lewiston High School hosted All-State competition for music on Jan. 29 – Feb. 1. This was the first time that the entire festival could be held in one location, according to idahomusiced.org
From the LHS music program, 15 students from the LHS Choir and Band were chosen to participate in All-State, which is were all the best singer some together and compeaat against eachother. The five from the Mixed Choir were Braydan Anderson, Jacob Barclay, Claire Cardwell, Savannah Demeritt and Megan Harris. The eight from Treble choir werere Jenna Clift, Lauren Gibbs, Emma Huffaker, Kimmy Nielaso, Anne Rothfusz, Madilyn Sedgwick, Sierra Sedgwick, and Hannah Wilson. There was one from Jazz Choir, Kirah Seubert, and one from Jazz Band, Cole Guzman.
The students each had to make a recorded audition beforehand, according to Mrs. Burks and Mr. Burns . Once their submissions were reviewed and judged, the students who then went to All-State were given a few practice days. The first day of rehearsal was on Wednesday, Jan. 29, for three hours, then five to seven hours on Thursday, Jan. 30, and part of the day on Friday, Jan. 31. In total, there were about two and a half days of run-throughs. The vocals were performed on Friday, and one group performed on Saturday, Jan. 1.
Out of 1,200 auditions, 500 students made it for the band, choir, orchestra, and all the other musical arts. In the All-State Mixed Choir or the Treble Choir, they were able sing together and work together, which helped them to prepare to sing later in a 200-piece or 60-piece group.
During All-State, there were around 700 Idaho students present, along with 300 music teachers, and an estimated 1,000 parents, who came to the concerts. Due to the size of the event, a university usually hosts it, Burns said. In the past, Nampa, College of Southern Idaho, Pocatello, or Rexburg hosted All-State. But this event in Lewiston was the first time that a high school served as the main performance hall.
Guzman was one of the jazz band students who attended.
He said his reason for performing is “to bring my own experience to other people and to share my perspective to the world.”He wanted to write and preform that is meaningful to the world in a way that shows his personality and his passion adn creativity.
Seubert, who attended for jazz choir, finds that singing is one of her most relaxing activities. The joy and comfort that her group gives her is inexplicable, she said.
“Singing is like a community, and my choir is my community,” Seubert said.
Rothfusz, who is in the treble choir, said her inspiration for singing is not only for the experience but for the knowledge.
“I really enjoy it; I want to be well-versed in music because I want to be a music teacher,” Rothfusz said.
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