All-State Choir

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All-State Choir is a statewide choral event [1] in each individual American state, usually for one weekend during the school year. [2] The choirs are honor groups [3] composed of a highly select group of high school students [4] who are the top music students from their respective schools, [3] with the Kansas Music Educators Association calling the all-state musicians "truly the best of the best," [5] and American Choral Directors Association saying it's a "prestigious ensemble." [6]

Participation is competitive. For instance, in Texas, 1,810 students are chosen from 70,000 who begin the audition process. [7] Some states have audition processes that can include making it through various levels of auditions in front of judging panels, [8] with some having several rounds of auditions including region choir, pre-area candidacy, then area, all before makng it to the all-state level. [9] [10] Auditions can include both prepared pieces and sight reading. [11]

All-state choir is held by the Educational Music Association body of each respective state. [12] On all-state weekends, students converge in one city, staying in a hotel together [13] with several rehearsals and social events. [14] They often get to work with renowned guest conductors, [12] preparing collegiate-level music [15] to be performed for large audiences [16] like at the Buell Theater in the Denver Performing Arts Complex [15] with a capacity of almost 3,000 seats. [17]

References

  1. "RHMS Chorus - All State Chorus Information". RHMS Chorus. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  2. "Schedule – Colorado All State Choir" . Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  3. 1 2 New York State School Music Association. "The All-State Process". NYSSMA. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  4. "All-State 2025". Florida Vocal Association. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  5. "All-State Choirs – KMEA" . Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  6. Bjella, Richard (2024-09-19). "2025 TMEA All-State Large School Mixed Choir - American Choral Directors Association". American Choral Directors Association. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  7. "All-State Choir | TMEA". Texas Music Educators Association. Archived from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  8. "Texas All-State | TMEA" . Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  9. "All-State". California Choral Directors Association. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  10. "All-State Audition Info – Clear Lake Choir" . Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  11. "Why Should I Participate in the All-State Process?". Lebanon Trail High School Choirs. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  12. 1 2 "KMEA All-State Chorus". PLD Choir. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  13. Ben V (2025-02-05). Kentucky All State Choir - National Anthem - 2025 . Retrieved 2025-06-20 via YouTube.
  14. Calvert, Allie. "All-state choir experience worth the years of hard work". Memorial Messenger. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  15. 1 2 Vallecillo, Valeria Acosta. "All-State Choir Performance". The Rangeview Raider Review. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  16. "Weekend Information – SCMEA Choral Division" . Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  17. "Buell Theatre - Denver Center for the Performing Arts". Denver Center. Retrieved 2025-06-20.