Playing an instrument at an All-State level isn’t something that can be picked up overnight; it takes years of practice that often begin in early childhood.
Every February, musicians across Connecticut audition for All-State ensemble, competing against the best performers in the state. This year, seven ELHS musicians earned spots in this selective festival: sophomore Aubrey Dalton; juniors Danni Kim, Aaron Huang, Joshua Payne, and Izzy Villarreal; and seniors Tyler Chantrell and Ayden Orazco.
To make the process even more competitive, students must first be accepted into the preliminary stage of the All-State audition process: the Regionals Music festival. At Regionals, musicians prepare a solo and many scales (a sequence of notes), in addition to sight reading (playing a piece of music musicians have never seen before). Students are evaluated and scored by judges, and only those selected into the Regional music festival are eligible to audition for All- State.
Preparing for the audition itself takes months of dedicated practice and effort.
“I started preparing for the audition in June of 2025 because I knew it was going to be significantly more competitive than Regionals, and I had to put in a lot more effort and time,” junior and violinist Aaron Huang said. “Leading up to auditions, I tried to practice the piece for at least an hour per night.”
Huang’s experience highlights the commitment and determination required to compete with other highly skilled musicians in the state. Students must dedicate hours to practice and further improve their audition pieces.
In addition, the festival rigor runs high. The conductor and the Connecticut Music Educator’s Association (CME) select the difficult pieces. These pieces push students musically and technically, requiring advanced skill and the ability to adapt quickly to an unfamiliar conductor and ensemble. Rehearsals are often hours long, including up to nine hours of rehearsal in a single day.
“Most people don’t know how intense it is. The students rehearse for hours on end. You need to be focused all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,” Justin Daly, the band director at ELHS, CMEA’s All-State Concert Band chair, and CMEA’s Eastern Region Director said.
The level of intensity of the festival emphasizes the mental focus needed to excel and succeed in an environment where the best fill the room. In just a few days, students quickly adjust to a conductor while effectively collaborating with other musicians.
Beyond the intensity and demand for the festival, students leave with an unforgettable and impactful experience.
“Participating in the All-State Music Festival has shown me that dedication and effort can have a lasting impact on success,” junior Joshua Payne said.
