Is this your first year making All-State?

No this is my second year making All-State

How does All-State work?

So basically you get the audition material in March of the year before your going to play with the ensemble and then you practice that, and you prepare your audition and submit it by May 31st. Then, the following fall, in late August or early September, they send out emails about who got accepted. Then you wait a long time, until November to get your music and your chair placement so you can start preparing and then you rehearse a few days before the concert in January or February. Then you have the Music Education Convention when you perform with the ensemble.

And you guys don’t practice together at all? Is that the first time you all play together? 

Yeah, I know for the choir and orchestra it works a little bit differently. I know they have rehearsals further in advance but for All-State, at least last year, that’s my only real frame of reference. We just met up the week before and had a few rehearsals. Maybe one or two days before and you stay overnight and have long rehearsal days where your basically  just preparing all day. I mean they assume that these students who are submitting their auditions are going to be practicing on their own stuff so that when you actually rehearse with the group its not like learning the music.

And how has it helped you with your music career?

Well, its definitely a good thing to put on college applications But also just playing with an ensemble of the best students on the state just feels really nice. It puts in a perspective what it might be like to be a professional musician obviously we’re still in high school but it really boosts your confidence when you get in. It makes you feel like this is just really something you can do and pursue later.