Quentin Smith will audition for All-State Orchestra in the 11/12 grade division on Oct. 18, 2014. He has auditioned once in the past and made it to Statewide Honor Orchestra. “(In preparation for the audition I) just practice, slowly and painfully with metronomes,” Smith said.
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Staff Writer
All-State, the Georgia Music Educator Association’s annual student orchestra, auditions take place on Oct. 18. The event brings together orchestra students from across the state for a three-day orchestra performance. Several Clarke Central High School orchestra students will be auditioning at the district level.
“All-State is a wonderful opportunity to get to meet students from all over the state who are dedicated and share extraordinary passion for orchestra,” CCHS orchestra director Eunice Kang said.
The first of two stages of audition will be held at Athens Academy. Students who make it through the initial audition will progress to audition on Jan. 10, 2015 at Westminster Schools in Atlanta. The highest-scoring students from the second audition will form the All-State Orchestra, the top recognition. The second highest level of recognition is the Statewide Honor Orchestra.
“(Students) get to work with outstanding, distinguished conductors. (All-State) is an exceptional opportunity for for developing as a musician,” Kang said.
All the musicians have auditioned for All-State before. Senior cellist Tomislav Žabčić-Matić and senior violinist Ana Sherer-Estévez are auditioning for the fifth year and senior bassist Quentin Smith’s second. Junior violinist Heather Riley has auditioned for Virginia All-State Orchestra.
“I got into Statewide Honor Orchestra last time,” Smith said. “I didn’t know any state level bass players, so it was good to meet some.”
Whether it be Statewide Honor Orchestra or All-State Orchestra, previous members feel it is a good experience.
“You get to meet a lot of great players, a lot of whom are much better than you, so it’s a learning experience,” Žabčić-Matić said.
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