All State

What is All-State?

The Iowa All-State Music Festival takes place every November in Ames, Iowa. It includes three ensembles: band, orchestra, and choir. Each ensemble represents the finest musicians from around the state. Auditions for the festival occur at the end of October. In order to audition you need to be enrolled in your appropriate musical ensemble.

Why audition for All-State?

  • Your musical abilities will improve greatly through this process!! Do you want to become a better player quickly??...audition for All-State!

  • Auditionees will have more opportunities to participate in other honor bands and musical ensembles throughout the year.

  • Being selected for All-State looks good on your resume as well as college applications

  • The materials used for the All-State Auditions are typically the same that are used for the Kennedy Wind Symphony Auditions.

  • Auditioning as a freshman or sophomore will help you to build the musical foundation needed to be a leader later on in your high school career.

What is included in the audition?

  1. You will need to prepare a minute of an All-State caliber solo*

    • If you need help selecting an appropriate solo contact Mr. Wacker

  2. Depending on your instrument, there will be 2-3 selected etudes to prepare. These will be released towards the end of July.

  3. You need to know all 12 of your major scales over the entire range of your instrument.

  4. You also need to know your chromatic scale over the entire range of you instrument.

Preparation process

  • Pre-Auditions in early September. These will help us to decide who will represent Kennedy at the auditions. There may be a 2nd round of pre-auditions in September if needed.

  • Clinics with instrument specialists to help you prepare.

  • Seminar sessions - allow you opportunities to play your materials for others as you move forward in your preparation process.

  • Mock auditions - held the week before the actual auditions

  • Online recording assignments and online help

  • Individual practice - one hour a day

for 2020 Auditions:

Each student auditioning for a place in one of the All-State Ensembles will submit a video audition recording. There will not be live auditions this year. There will also not be any recalls. If live auditions make you nervous, this is the year to audition.

Interested in auditioning?

  • Start memorizing your 12 major scales and chromatic scale

  • Fill out this interest survey by July 20

  • Private lessons - not required, but highly recommended! If you are looking for a teacher contact Mr. Wacker for a list of area teachers.