Last weekend, musical arts students traveled to San Antonio to perform in the All-State concert. These students represented HPHS choir, orchestra and band at one of the state’s most prestigious musical events.
Highland Park students Luka Anderson, Carson Critcher, Caroline Davidson, Alec Fang, Ryaan Khan, Rajan Luthra, James Jaron Pierce, Samuel Stobaugh and Raymond Wu spent months preparing for a goal that demanded both technical skill and composure: earning a place as Texas Music Educators Association All-State musicians.
“You start with about 70,000 student musicians across Texas,” band director Marc Nicholson said. “Through a competitive audition process based on specific etudes, that number is narrowed down to the top 2% of performers. Those students become All-State musicians.”
Auditions begin with music released in July, giving students several months to master etudes that remain the same through every elimination round. Preparation is measured not only in hours spent practicing but also in developing the confidence to perform alone.
“Start early and start slow. Learn it correctly,” Nicholson said. “It’s about learning how to learn. The process matters more than rushing to the end result.”
Students perform in front of judges who cannot see them to ensure fair scoring.
“They go one by one,” Critcher said. “The judges can’t see who you are because they’re behind a curtain.”
This form of anonymity helps to soothe students’ nerves and to ensure the best possible playing environment.
“Being able to play the way you typically play when no one else is around is difficult,” Critcher said. “It’s very challenging to keep your composure.”
For singers, the pressure is amplified by sight reading, where they must perform unfamiliar music on the spot.
“You show up, flip open a folder, and there are notes,” Luthra said. “They play a starting note for you, and then you read the notes based off that. You have to practice a lot for that. It’s the hardest part.”
Band and Orchestra students advance through district, area and ultimately state, while choir students advance through district, region, area and state rounds before earning a place in an All-State ensemble. This year’s Highland Park group included more students advancing together than in years past, creating shared anticipation.
“I was really excited because all four of us in choir who made it to Area also made it to State,” Luthra said. “We were really nervous that maybe only some of us would make it.”
Once named to the All-State ensambles, students travel to San Antonio for several days of rehearsal and final performance at the TMEA convention. The experience includes intensive ensemble work and opportunities to connect with other top musicians from across Texas.
“We get there on a Wednesday, and for the rest of the week, we spend time as a group working on the music. Then on Saturday, we have the performance,” Critcher said.
All the students who made it had to show extreme skill and dedication.
“Band is not easy, and it’s not supposed to be,” Nichelson said. “Most things worth doing are not easy. But if you commit to it, it can be life changing.”
