By: Libby Penick @lmpenick
Every year, the Iowa High School Music Association hold tryouts for students in Iowa to be a part of an All-State choir that will perform in front of thousands of people at the All-State Music Festival. All-State is where students across from Iowa audition to be a part of a choir that will perform at Hilton Coliseum. Only 17% of the students who audition actually make it in.
This year, only one student auditioned from Boone High School. Junior Isidro Gonzalez took on the challenge this year with choir instructor Kelly Earll by his side.
Gonzalez’s audition lasted a good twelve hours, departing at 6:30 am and arriving home at around 6:30 pm. His first audition was at 9:00am, where he sang five different songs in a capella, as well as imitating different pitches played by an accompanist in front of one judge. He auditioned to be a Tenor 1, which is a high tenor. The results of that audition weren’t posted until about 3:00 in the afternoon, and Gonzalez found out he had been placed on the callback list.
His callback audition was in front of three judges, and he sang three songs a capella. A couple hours later, he found out he had made All-State choir.
The All-State choir is performing two songs along with the orchestra The choir has a little over 1,000 people in it, and Gonzalez feels very privileged to be a part of it. “I feel pretty happy that they wanted me to be a part of All-State Choir.” says Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has to practice the songs individually, and then the two days before the concert are spent with the whole choir practicing together. The two pieces that the choir will be singing are America the Beautiful, and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
This year, only one student auditioned from Boone High School. Junior Isidro Gonzalez took on the challenge this year with choir instructor Kelly Earll by his side.
Gonzalez’s audition lasted a good twelve hours, departing at 6:30 am and arriving home at around 6:30 pm. His first audition was at 9:00am, where he sang five different songs in a capella, as well as imitating different pitches played by an accompanist in front of one judge. He auditioned to be a Tenor 1, which is a high tenor. The results of that audition weren’t posted until about 3:00 in the afternoon, and Gonzalez found out he had been placed on the callback list.
His callback audition was in front of three judges, and he sang three songs a capella. A couple hours later, he found out he had made All-State choir.
The All-State choir is performing two songs along with the orchestra The choir has a little over 1,000 people in it, and Gonzalez feels very privileged to be a part of it. “I feel pretty happy that they wanted me to be a part of All-State Choir.” says Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has to practice the songs individually, and then the two days before the concert are spent with the whole choir practicing together. The two pieces that the choir will be singing are America the Beautiful, and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
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