This year, the process started in July and included release of the selected music and the chance to attend a summer camp to learn about the selected pieces, according to Senior High Choir Director Matt Drees.

“This gives them a headstart in learning and preparing the music,” said Drees. “Otherwise, we typically begin rehearsing music with the students outside of class during the first few weeks of school in August.”

This year, seven Fort Dodge Senior High students got the call that their efforts were fruitful and they earned an all-state selection and a chance to perform at the all-state festival in Ames on Nov. 22-23.

Earning all-state recognition were Abi Casciato, Micah Flaherty, Owen Hamlow, Alexa McHone, Lauren Patterson, Manuela Rodriguez and Claire Thompson.

Fort Dodge had 15 students prepare and audition. The auditions were held Oct. 26 in LeMars. Drees said typically Fort Dodge has between seven and 10 students selected for all-state, with the high-water mark of 13.

“Typically there are 600 students selected for all-state,” Drees said. “Those 600 represent about 15 percent of the total number of students auditioning. Students selected represent somewhere around the top 2 percent of all students enrolled in 9-12 music statewide.”

Drees said the students experience a gamut of emotions as they prepare for the all-state auditions. He said “it’s usually a mix of nerves, performance anxiety and excitement. Waiting for the results is always such a long and difficult time to manage.”

During Drees’ time as choir director, there have been two students who have been selected for all-state all four years of high school. Ben Ahlers and Brian Murmann both reached that milestone in 2015.

He’s also had several students earn three years of all-state recognition. Hamlow is a junior and this year was his third time being selected so he can join the list of four-timers next year.

Drees explained there are some specific things that students need to tackle as they prepare for the all-state auditions. That includes finding the right tone quality, intonation, rhythm and musicianship, which are the four parts on which they are scored.

“Knowing the music (notes, rhythm, language pronunciation) is just a minimum,” he said. “They also need to be focusing on beautiful sound, accurate dynamics, making expressive musical choices, etc. We help them understand and focus on the four categories that they get scored on while auditioning.”

Drees said he also has to deal with the difficult task of students not being selected, but he tries to focus on the positive when students don’t make the list.

“This is always difficult,” he said. “The hardest part about this process is that so much of it is so subjective. Because of the sheer number of students auditioning during a single day, there are six different vocal ‘centers’ where auditions take place. That means that students are singing for different judges, in different rooms, at different times of the day, each with a different set of students from other schools auditioning in that center.”

Students also deal with the stress of receiving or not receiving a call-back during auditions. Drees said students can be given a call back and then not be selected and some students don’t receive a call-back request and are then still selected.

Madge Hensely, Jayden Lennon, Camila Lopes and Aidan Russell all earned call backs and Lennon and Hensley were selected as alternates.

“There are just so many things that are out of our control, so it is hard to know if they may have been successful in a different center,” Drees said, “At the end of the day, it is just most important to remind students how much they have grown as individual musicians and singers by completing this process, and that the process and the personal growth far outweigh the potential outcome. It is hard to remember that when you feel rejected or left out, but that is what we always try to remind students.”

Rodriguez, who has been all-state twice, said she had a mix of emotions after the results were posted.

“It was cool, but I was really bummed for everybody else that didn’t make it,” she said. “I saw the list and saw some of my friends didn’t make it. It was upsetting because they are really good singers.”

Rodriguez, who was the No. 1 player on the girls tennis team last spring, likened the pressure to what athletes face.

“It’s best when you go to a camp and you get to learn everything, but you still have to put in the time to make sure everything is the best it can be on that day,” she added. “Some people say it’s the most stressful day of the year. The system is set up to be very stressful for everyone involved.”

The 2024 Festival will celebrate the 78th anniversary of this prestigious event. Audition sites included LeMars, Hampton, Independence, Atlantic, Indianola, and Washington. The all-state band includes 276 students, all-state orchestra is 214 and all-state choir is 601 singers.

The all-state musical festival concert will be held 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. All-state selections in orchestra and band will also perform along with the choir.

All tickets to the performance are digital and can be purchased through the Ticketmaster website. Tickets are $30 plus fees and all seating is reserved seating.