Every year, talented students all across New Hampshire are chosen to participate in the All-State concerts. These students audition in November and if they’re chosen, they will participate in an ensemble with other students with a passion for music all across the state. This year’s participants in the Jazz All-State ensembles from LHS are juniors Kelsey Sweet, Jacob Sevigny, and senior James Dooley.
For Sevigny, this is his first year participating in All-State, offering him a new experience.
“I really enjoyed it because I got to meet a lot of new people with the same interests as me,” Sevigny said.
The students that make the auditions are given the music for their parts, allowing them to practice as they see fit.
“I have been rehearsing with the honors jazz ensemble for this weekend,” Dooley said. “As well as seeing professional groups perform.”
For those who are chosen to be in All-State, it takes a lot of dedication to prepare for the concerts.
“The hardest part of preparing was being solid on everything,” Sweet said. “When it comes to jazz, harmonies can be very crunchy and to those who are new to it, it may sound very wrong, but in reality it’s right. I had to really learn how to be confident in myself and that was the only way to win in the end.”
Despite how much work these musicians have to put into rehearsing and practicing, it doesn’t make the experience any less enjoyable.
“I love participating in All-State because I’m surrounded by the most proficient and talented people that are out there,” Sweet said. “When you’re singing with them for a 12 hour rehearsal, yes you can get tired and sometimes feel a mixture of emotion, but the music you’re able to create with other people around you is so magical.”
Since they get to collaborate with other musicians across the state, they’re able to make connections with people they would have never met otherwise.
“My favorite part is meeting other musicians,” Sevigny said. “I think my favorite part of all of this is being able to play in front of people with other kids who also enjoy performing for others.”
If you’re passionate about playing music then auditioning for All-State may be a good way to improve your skills.
“I encourage every musician in LHS to audition for some branch of All-State,” Dooley said. “Working toward a goal of learning audition material and having audition experience is incredibly important.”
