The Iowa All State Choir is a prestigious choir that brings together top high school singers from across the state of Iowa. This choir participates in an annual 3-day festival held on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The All State Choir performs a concert at the end of the festival that showcases the incredible musical talent within Iowa’s high schools.
Overview of the Iowa All State Choir Festival
The Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) sponsors the Iowa All State Choir festival each year. High school choral directors across Iowa nominate their top singers during auditions held in the late fall. Approximately 200-250 singers are selected from these auditions to participate in the All State Choir.
The 3-day All State Choir festival is held in mid-November on the Iowa State University campus. Students arrive on Thursday evening for orientation and their first rehearsal. Intense rehearsals are held all day Friday and Saturday, with sectionals and full choir rehearsals. Students work with nationally renowned choral conductors during this festival.
The festival culminates with a concert on Saturday evening where the All State Choir performs their music. The concert repertoire is selected by the guest conductor and includes challenging, advanced-level choral music. Family, friends, and the general public are welcome to attend the concert.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Iowa All State Choir, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in grades 9-12 in an Iowa high school
- Be enrolled in their school’s curricular choral program
- Audition and be selected from their local IHSMA auditions site
The top singers from across the state are chosen from 10 IHSMA audition sites. Only the top 5% of singers who audition will be accepted into the All State Choir.
Audition Process
Students wishing to be considered for the All State Choir must go through a competitive audition process in October. The auditions are organized by IHSMA and held at 10 sites across Iowa.
Each student performs a short solo selection of their choosing. They also perform scales, arpeggios, and sight-reading examples as part of their audition. A panel of choral directors scores each student and selects the top singers to move on to All State.
All State Choir Participants By Year
The number of singers selected for the Iowa All State Choir varies slightly from year to year. Here is a look at the participant numbers over the past decade:
Year | Number of Participants |
---|---|
2023 | 212 |
2022 | 208 |
2021 | 203 |
2020 | 198 |
2019 | 215 |
2018 | 210 |
2017 | 225 |
2016 | 230 |
2015 | 235 |
2014 | 221 |
As the table shows, the All State Choir includes around 200-235 singers each year. The typical range is 200-225 participants.
Distribution of Voice Parts
The Iowa All State Choir contains a distribution of voice parts, including sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. Here is the approximate distribution:
- Sopranos: 30-40%
- Altos: 30-40%
- Tenors: 10-15%
- Basses: 10-15%
Since the choir recruits from high school students, there are typically more female voices (sopranos and altos) than male voices (tenors and basses). However, the conductor aims for balance across the sections when selecting students.
Notable Alumni
Many famous singers got their start in the Iowa All State Choir. Here are a few notable alumni:
- Simon Estes – Operatic bass-baritone who has performed with major opera companies around the world.
- Karrin Allyson – Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist.
- Liam Bonner – Operatic baritone.
- Matt Wilson – Lead singer of the band Tripmaster Monkey.
These accomplished singers demonstrate the incredible talent that has passed through the All State Choir over the decades. The festival identifies and brings together Iowa’s top young singers.
Selection Process
Gaining admission into the Iowa All State Choir involves a highly competitive audition process. On average, only about 5% of students who audition are selected for All State.
Students audition in their local IHSMA district in October. Each student performs a solo, sight-reading, and technical exercises for a panel of judges. The judges score students on the following criteria:
- Tone quality
- Intonation
- Technique
- Accuracy
- Musicality
Judges look for singers who demonstrate strong fundamentals and excellent musicianship. The highest scoring students from each district are offered a spot in the All State Choir.
Competitive Auditions
In some larger school districts, the auditions to qualify for All State can be extremely competitive. For example, the Des Moines district may have over 100 students vying for just 5-10 All State spots.
The students have prepared for months leading up to the auditions. They work with their choir directors to polish their solo piece, practice sight-reading, and develop their vocal technique. Earning one of the coveted All State spots brings great prestige.
Alternates
In addition to the All State Choir members, IHSMA also selects alternate singers. Alternates are students who scored high enough to qualify for All State but were just shy of making the cut-off.
Alternates are invited to attend the festival and rehearse with the choir. They do not perform in the finale concert except in the rare case they need to substitute for a choir member who is ill.
Being named an All State alternate is still an impressive accomplishment, showing a singer’s skill and musicianship.
Repertoire & Guest Conductors
The musical repertoire performed by the All State Choir is selected each year by the guest conductor. This conductor is nominated and approved by the IHSMA.
The guest conductor is typically a highly acclaimed choral conductor, often from the collegiate level. Conductors are chosen based on their reputation and experience leading top-tier choirs.
Previous guest conductors have included:
- Dr. Therees Hibbard – Director of Choral Activities, University of Iowa
- Dr. John Dickson – Director of Choirs, Michigan State University
- Dr. Andrew Megill – Director of Choral Studies, University of Illinois
These conductors select challenging but exciting repertoire to performing during the festival. The music is kept confidential until the festival so students can focus on proper rehearsal.
Past concert programs have included advanced works by composers like Brahms, Mozart, and Whitacre, as well as folk songs and spirituals.
Commissioned Piece
Each year, the All State Choir commissions an original composition to perform at their concert. This piece is written specifically for the ensemble to introduce at the festival.
Recently commissioned composers include Abbie Betinis, Libby Larsen, and Michael Engelhardt. These composers craft new choral works tailored to showcase Iowa’s talented high school singers.
Role of Choir Directors
Throughout the All State process, students rely heavily on support from their high school choir directors. Directors play an integral role in preparing students for auditions and helping them learn the All State music.
Pre-Audition Preparation
In the months before auditions, choir directors work closely with their students hoping to qualify for All State. They provide the following guidance:
- Help students select and polish their audition solo piece
- Work on technical skills like sight-reading
- Offer rehearsals and coaching sessions
- Build confidence and mental preparation
Directors get to know the All State requirements and make sure their students are maximizing their skillset. Their insight and experience with the process is invaluable.
Learning the Music
Once students are accepted into the All State Choir, it becomes the job of their choir director to help them learn the festival music. Directors receive thesheet music in advance to rehearse individually with their students.
All State members rely on their directors to go over their voice parts and answer questions on the challenging music. When students arrive at the festival, they need to know their notes and rhythms.
Attending the Festival
Many choir directors also attend the All State festival to watch their students participate and perform. Directors feel proud watching their students thrive among Iowa’s top singers.
Some directors also assist with sectionals, provide accompaniment, or help the guest conductor as needed. They continue supporting their students throughout the experience.
Impact on Students
Being selected for the Iowa All State Choir has an enormous impact on student singers. This honor provides invaluable musical experiences and benefits.
Intensive Training
The All State Choir provides three days of intensive musical training for student participants. Working with a renowned conductor and singing with top musicians their own age accelerates students’ development.
The vocal and musical challenges help students improve technique, reading, intonation, and expression. They return to their school choir as stronger, more skilled singers.
Exposure to New Music
Students are exposed to advanced choral repertoire they likely would not encounter otherwise. The All State music is typically collegiate-level in its sophistication.
Learning these pieces expands students’ musical horizons and exposes them to new composers. It also boosts their sight-reading ability applied to complex music.
Confidence Building
Being selected for All State builds tremendous confidence in young musicians. The honor affirms their talent and dedication. Standing on stage at the festival concert is a life-changing moment.
This experience often motivates students to pursue music seriously in college and beyond. It validates that their commitment to music can take them far.
Festival Schedule
The Iowa All State Choir Festival follows a structured 3-day schedule to prepare for the finale concert. Here is an overview of the typical festival schedule:
Thursday
- Afternoon – Registration and check-in
- Early Evening – Orientation and introductions
- Late Evening – First combined choir rehearsal
Friday
- Morning – Sectional rehearsals
- Afternoon – Full choir rehearsals
- Evening – Social activity and choir bonding
Saturday
- Morning – Dress rehearsal
- Afternoon – Refine pieces and practice problem spots
- Evening – Finale concert performance
This schedule allows for plenty of musical preparation while also building rapport among the students. The week culminates in the rewarding live performance.
Costs for Students
While a huge honor, being selected for All State does come with some costs for students and their families. Here are the main expenses associated with participating:
- Audition fee – $15 to audition at local IHSMA district
- Festival fee – $100-150 to register for All State if selected
- Lodging – Hotel or dorm stay for 3 days/2 nights
- Meals – Breakfasts, lunches, snacks
- Concert attire – Black dresses, suits, or tuxedos
- Music – Purchase copies of festival sheet music
- Transportation – Gas, parking, flight costs if far away
There are opportunities for fundraising and sponsorships to help students offset these costs. But families should budget several hundred dollars for an All State participant.
Accompaniment
In addition to the choral singers, the Iowa All State Festival also involves talented student pianists who provide accompaniment.
Selection Process
Student pianists audition to participate in All State just like the singers. They go through a competitive audition process judged by IHSMA.
Factors considered include technical skill, accuracy, musicality, and sight-reading. Approximately 12-15 pianists are chosen each year.
Rehearsal & Performances
The selected pianists attend the entire All State festival and sit in on all rehearsals. They learn the accompaniment parts for the concert repertoire.
These students rehearse both solo and together to unify their interpretation and technical execution. They also perform as accompanists for the festival concert.
The pianists are crucial in bringing the choral music to life and keeping singers on pitch during the performance.
Conclusion
Singing in the prestigious Iowa All State Choir is a coveted honor for high school students. It offers musical challenges and experiences found nowhere else. The festival showcases the state’s top young talents.
Hundreds of students audition for just 200-235 spots each year. The selected singers spend three intensive days learning advanced repertoire and being mentored by a renowned conductor.
All State provides musical development and confidence that stays with students long after the final concert. For Iowa’s best young singers, All State represents the experience of a lifetime.