All State Orchestra Fall 2026

The 2026 All-State Middle Level String Orchestra will take place on Wednesday, November 18, with a final concert at 4:30 pm at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

2026 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL ORCHESTRA AUDITION & PERFORMANCE TIMELINE:

ALL AUDITIONS FOR ALL STATE WILL BE DONE THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9TH. I will be recording auditions September 16th after school in room 308. If that date does not work for you, please let me know and we will figure something else out. 

There is an audition fee of $10. That needs to be paid by Friday, September 11th.

Audition results come out mid-October.

If you make it into All State, there is a $50 fee.

November 18th: Rehearsal and performance in Lincoln.

AUDITION MATERIALS

NMEA will utilize Google Forms to collect student auditions, which will be available when the window for audition submissions opens. Auditions will include scales and etudes.

1. All-State Scale Sheets (click each link to download)

Each scale sheet contains both major and minor scales.

• Bass

• Cello

• Viola

• Violin

2. All-State Etudes (click each link) Please note that etude sheets do not include bowings. 

• Bass

• Cello

• Viola

• Violin

For more information, go to the official website linked here. 

Pieces for Performance:

American Landscape by Soon Hee Newbold

Through Moanin' Pines by Henry Thacker Burleigh

Swallowtail Salsa by Angelica Salazar

Song for UhmMa by Soo Han

Triumph by Armond Wimberly

Check out the conductor: 

2026 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL STRING ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR

Dr. Blair A. Williams is Director of Professional Development for the American String Teachers Association. She has served our string teaching community in public school, higher education, civic and youth symphonies, and in the string studio for over 25 years. Her school ensembles consistently achieved superior marks at contests and festivals. Recent conducting and clinician engagements have included youth, regional, and all-city ensembles in Alaska, Kansas, Hawaii, Ohio, Oregon, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Texas. She is on the conducting staff with the Manhattan (KS) Youth Symphony and frequently performs as a freelance musician.

Her presentations and research have been accepted or presented at international, national, and regional conferences and symposia. Her research interests include: music teacher education, community music, and music teacher recruitment. She is published in International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, American String Teacher, SmartMusic, and in volume 4 of Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra.

A frequent guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator, Dr. Williams enjoys working with and learning from teachers, musicians, and students across the country. Originally from Newton, Kansas, she holds degrees from The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, and Baylor University.