Musicians attend selective in-person All State program

April 28, 2022 — by Kavya Patel
Photo by Vidur Sanghi
The practice room for the concert band at All State.
Students went to Fresno for an opportunity to expand their knowledge about music

As a bus of 28 elite band and orchestra musicians departed for Fresno in late February, sophomore Vidur Sanghi’s nerves tingled with excitement. 

He and the others on the bus had been selected as  All State musicians. All State occurred a couple weeks after the marching band competition season ended. The program allows the top musicians in the state to get together to create music together while working with conductors and performing complex pieces for four days. 

To apply, interested students submitted audio auditions for choir, band or orchestra. The groups were then further split into a concert section and symphonic section. 

Sanghi has been playing the saxophone since 6th grade and is a part of the Saratoga High’s marching band and Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE). For him, like many others, the audition process was challenging, so he was both surprised but extremely pleased when he heard he had been selected. 

After arriving, they were placed in their various chairs and even performed a concert that night. The next couple of days consisted of rehearsals and many hours dedicated to perfecting their pieces.

On Saturday, the day ended with another concert from the wind ensemble, the top band in All State. At the concert, they even premiered a piece about Black Lives Matter, although professional artists usually aren’t able to premiere pieces, Sanghi said.

 By the end of the trip, he had experienced a lot more musically than he had before, and had even accomplished a personal goal by playing in front of the largest crowd he’s ever performed in front of. 

“I had a lot of fun at All State and am so grateful for the opportunity,” Sanghi said. “I loved getting to meet new people and perform in front of such a large audience.” 

Senior Christopher Okuno also had a similarly rewarding experience at All State. 

Okuno, who plays the euphonium, has attended All State for a total of six years spanning middle and high school. In 10th and 12th grade, Okuno played in the high school symphonic band.

Though the process was tedious, Okuno believes that it is certainly possible for young, dedicated musicians to attend the program and the rewards are worth the effort. 

“All State teaches you a lot of things about the outside music world, and the musicians are always amazing. My favorite part is certainly watching and learning from other musicians,” Okuno said.

3 views this week