All State Music Festival: Congratulations to seniors Michael Payne (Baritone – Chorus), Sarah DenHerder (French Horn – Orchestra), and Carly Kuhse (Clarinet – Band) who were selected into the Iowa All-State Music Festival after auditioning in October. They will perform as part of the 75th Anniversary IHSMA All-State Music Festival November 18th-20th. Senior Clayton Gustafson was also honored as a 1st Alternate (Alto Saxophone – Band). Being accepted into the All-State music ensembles is the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians, and only about 17% of those who audition are accepted. Congratulations to these students for their outstanding achievement.
OPUS Honor Choir Festival: 6th Graders Cade Huskey and Brynnlee Chapman & 9th Grader Tate Truitt were all recently selected for participation in the 35th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 2100 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. Guest conductors of the choirs include Nancy Ewing, LeMars Community Middle School, 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir; David Fog, retired, 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Cheryl Thompson, Atlantic Middle School, 7th & 8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Samantha Robillard, Pella High School, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The 2021 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m. November 18th in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames. The Opus Honor Choir Festival is made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc.
