Seventeen Homer High School music students were selected to perform in the Alaska All-State honor band and choir event taking place in Anchorage on Saturday.
Hosted by the Alaska School Activities Association, the music festival will feature performances by students who have auditioned from across the state.
“Because this is an ASAA-sponsored event, every school that has a music program has the opportunity to take part in this,” Homer High School choir director Kyle Schneider said.
Even if the school doesn’t offer something like orchestra, Schneider said, students who play an orchestral instrument still had an opportunity to audition.
To audition, students prepared music selections chosen by choir, band and orchestral directors from schools around the state.
“The audition material is submitted and goes through an adjudication process at the state level and at the end of that, students are identified as honorees to attend the event,” Schneider said.
A press release from the University of Alaska reports that over 753 auditions were submitted and 345 students from across the state were selected to participate for the various ensembles. The four music conductors for the event are guests from universities outside of Alaska, Schneider said.
Rehearsals for the event take place Thursday and Friday at Bartlett High School, with dress rehearsal Saturday at West Anchorage High School. The Festival Gala Concert will be at West Anchorage High School on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at the ASAA website: https://gofan.co/app/school/ASAA.
Homer High School performers
Mixed Choir
William Bradshaw — Tenor 2 (First Chair Candidate)
Dayus Geysbeek — Tenor 2
Jack Houle — Bass 1
Kayla Kalafut — Soprano 2
Rebecca Trowbridge — Alto 2 (First Chair Candidate)
Treble Choir
Michaela Browning — Soprano 1
Brenna Cox — Soprano 2
McKenzie Hansen — Soprano 2
Gracie High — Alto 1
Charity Rainwater — Alto 2
Rainey Sundheim — Alto 2
Band
Ali Gall — Flute
Bryce Hagge — Tuba
Clark Milstead — Trombone
Emelian Melkomukov — Bassoon
Anna Springer — Contralto Clarinet
Orchestra
Maggie Mae Gaylord — Violin
