All-State Procedure

The All-State Concert, held in March or April every year, is an event sponsored by the Connecticut Music Educators National Conference. The groups performing include the All-State Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and Jazz Band. There is a prescribed series of events that must be adhered to in order to be eligible to participate in this concert.

All-State is a two tier audition process. The first audition takes place in November. This audition determines eligibility for participation in the Western Region (i.e. Fairfield County) All-State Festival. Students must perform a solo (usually Grade IV in level of difficulty) selected by the All-State Committee. These solos are typically published in May or June and can be found on the All-State bulletin board opposite the water fountain in Building 4.This audition also includes prescribed scales in a formatted rhythm and sight reading. Registration for this audition takes place mid-September. Students who are selected, based on their audition scores, to participate in the Western Region Festival must participate in order to be allowed to audition for the All-State Festival. The Western Region Festival takes place on Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday in mid to late January in a high school in Fairfield County. Students commute both days to this event on Staples HS buses, but transportation home after the Saturday concert is the responsibility of the parent. It usually alternates between coastal and inland sites.

The second audition is held in early February after all four of the regions have held their festivals. Only students who participate in their region festivals will be allowed to audition in February. Students must once again perform a solo (usually Grade VI in level of difficulty) selected by the All-State Committee. These solos are also published in May or June and can be found on the All-State bulletin board opposite the water fountain in Building 4. Voice students selected for an All-State audition prepare their part from one prescribed selection in a “Music Minus One” format. Scales and sight reading are also included in this audition. Students who are selected, based on their audition scores, to participate in the All-State Festival, will attend the two day, overnight Festival in late March or early April (depending on the calendar year). The festival has been held in Hartford for the past several years. Cost for this festival is usually in the $200. range. Students are transported to the festival on Staples HS buses. Transportation home after the event is the responsibility of the parents. Typically, parents attend the All-State concert and then drive their children home. Staples HS music teachers are at the site at all times during the festival.

Additional information can be found at www.cmea.org.