Coming together to make music can be a powerful thing. Every year, there is a festival in Iowa that brings together musicians from across the state. Nine Xavier High School students played a key part in the festival this year.

The All-State Music Festival occurred on November 17-19, at Iowa State University in Ames. Seven vocalists from Xavier performed in the choral portion of the festival: seniors Emily Lauer, Luke Lesnik, Melody Snow, and Hannah Zwanziger, and juniors Curt Lengemann, Tristan Perreault, and Nolan Pithan.

“It was so inspiring to sing with 600 other dedicated musicians,” Lauer said.

Junior Joseph Bioche played in the band as a third part clarinetist and sophomore Callie Fay was an alternate flutist.

The band was comprised of 284 students. A total of 600 voices made up the choir, and the orchestra had 149 musicians. Around 1,700 people auditioned on October 22 for one of the coveted spots at All-State. Of them, nine were from Xavier.

“The quotas are insane,” Xavier band director Ms. Kelli Swehla said. “At Callie Fay’s regional, there were 47 flutists auditioning and they only took four.”

Auditioning for All-State is a long process. For band, the students have to memorize twelve major scales and at least two etudes. Vocalists also have to prepare for auditions and perform before judges in quartets.

“I’m very pleased with how everyone auditioned,” Swehla said. “I think everyone put their best foot forward when it mattered. My personal opinion is that it’s always about the means, so even if you don’t make it, you improve your skills. If you make it into All-State, that’s a great reward but if you don’t, it doesn’t take away from all the work you put in to make yourself better.”

Twenty-nine Xavier students auditioned and nine had the opportunity to join students from all over the state to make music. The students who participated in the All-State Music Festival came together to produce music for all.