2018 Iowa All-State Music Festival

October 24, 2018

2018 Iowa All-State Music Festival

As the cooler fall weather sets in, and marching band season comes to a close, our shop was very busy with last minute instrument adjustments before All-State auditions last weekend. As a high school student, I always tried out for All-State and never made it, and I've always had a great respect for those students who put in the work and earn those coveted seats. Those of us in the music community know what a giant accomplishment it is to be accepted into the All-State Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. The practice time required to learn the material is daunting, and most students that are accepted have been working on the audition material for months. We would like to congratulate every student who tried out, you are a better musician for it!

We’ve made so many friends over the years, and we’re very grateful the majority of these Northwest Iowa families have allowed Midbell to be a part of their musical experience!  We would like to recognize these Northwest Iowa instrumentalists who were selected for All-State this year…

In the 2018 Iowa All-State Band:
Alexa Timmerman from Cherokee on Oboe, Carly Drenth from Alta-Aurelia on Clarinet, Ruby O’Hagan from Spirit Lake on Clarinet, Noel Roberts from Spirit Lake on Clarinet, Sarah Glade from Sioux City North on Clarinet, Dallas Johnson from Okoboji on Clarinet, Emily Martin from LeMars on Clarinet, Rylie Bainbridge from Cherokee on Clarinet, Luke Geitz from LeMars on Clarinet, Jessica Melville from Sioux City East on Clarinet, Allison Nolin from Spencer on Clarinet, Sarah Olson from Storm Lake on Clarinet, Sierra Meyer from Trinity Christian on Alto Saxophone, Levi Rees from Spencer on Alto Saxophone, Drake Oswald from LeMars on Tenor Saxophone, Reed Adajar from Sioux City North on Bari Saxophone, Ellie Hurst from Sioux Center on Cornet (Trumpet), Devin Hansen from LeMars on Cornet (Trumpet), Ben Kovarna from MVAOCOU on Cornet (Trumpet), Amanda DeBates from Sioux City East on Trumpet, Anna Van Holland from MOC-Floyd Valley on French Horn, James Dagel from Sibley-Ocheyedan on French Horn, Andrew Flory from Sioux City East on Trombone, Luke Benton from LeMars on Euphonium, Aidan Shorey from Sioux City North on Euphonium, August Hubbard from MOC-Floyd Valley on Tuba, Brandon Nolin from Spencer on Tuba, and Hannah Hulstein from MOC-Floyd Valley on String Bass.

In the 2018 Iowa All-State Orchestra:
John Alexander from Okoboji on Violin, Sarah Meis from LeMars on Violin, Kaeley Meyer from Unity Christian on Violin, Sara-Marie Jabre from Bishop Heelan on Violin, Emily Meyer from Unity Christian on Violin, Caitlin Van Engen from Trinity Christian on Violin, Leai Britton from Sioux City East on Viola, Naomi Lief from Unity Christian on Viola, Derek Hwang from Sioux City North on Cello, Josh Beltman from Unity Christian on String Bass, Lindsey Funke from West Lyon on Flute, Lauren Geerlings from Sioux City East on Oboe, Lydia Lee from West Lyon on Clarinet, Sandra Ramos from Storm Lake on Bass Clarinet, Addie Cosgrove from Cherokee on Bari Saxophone, Samantha Monsma from MOC-Floyd Valley on French Horn, Anna Godtland from Boyden-Hull on Trombone, and Samuel Heikens from Okoboji on Percussion.

We also would like to give a shout-out to all our friends who were accepted in the 2018 Iowa All-State Chorus… Click here for the list

Here is the link to view the entire list… http://ihsma.org/all-state-music-festival/

Warning…shameless plug
Music educators know that when auditioning for All-State (or any honor band), every competitive edge counts. This includes your instrument. We have a giant stock of intermediate and professional level instruments available. Now through the end of the year, there are many manufacturer rebates, in-store promotions, and financing specials available. We take trades and can offer rent credit for your student instrument (however we suggest keeping the student instrument for marching band.) We have a few instruments on our web site and many more options in store. We invite you to call or stop-in to hear for yourself the huge difference a better instrument can make in your sound.

Congrats again to EVERY student who auditioned last week! Here’s to another beautiful and musical autumn season.

Mike Guntren
Ray’s Midbell Music