The Iowa All-State music festival takes place every November in Ames, Iowa. It includes three ensembles: band, orchestra, and choir. Each ensemble represents the finest musicians from around the state. Auditions for the festival occur at the end of October. In order to audition you must be enrolled in your appropriate musical ensemble. To see a list of past members, click on the button below.
All-State frequently asked questions
Why audition for All-State
• Your musical abilities will improve greatly through this process
• Those who audition will have more opportunities to participate in other honor bands and musical ensembles throughout the year
• Being selected for all-state looks good on your resume as well as college applications
• The materials used for the all-state auditions are typically the same that are used for the Kennedy wind symphony auditions
• Auditioning as a freshman or sophomore will help you to build the musical foundation needed to be a leader later on in your high school career
What is included in the audition?
• You will need to prepare a minute of an all-state caliber solo
• Depending on your instrument, there will be two to three selected etudes to prepare. These will be released towards the end of July
• You need to know all 12 major scales over the entire range of your instrument
• You also need to know your chromatic scale over the entire range of your instrument
What is the preparation process?
• Pre-auditions in early September. These will help us to decide who will represent Kennedy at the auditions. There may be a second round of pre-auditions in September if needed.
• Clinics with instrument specialists to help you prepare
• Seminar sessions—allows you opportunities to play your materials for others as you move forward in your preparation process
• Mock auditions are held the week before auditions
• Online recording assignments and online help
• Individual practice—one hour a day
Interested in auditioning?
• Start memorizing your 12 major scales and chromatic scale
• Private lessons are not required, but highly recommended. If you are looking for a teacher, contact the band teacher for a list of area teachers