For musicians of various grade levels, it is an honorable opportunity to attend the annual music conference All-State. From Jan. 14 to Jan. 17, band, strings, and vocal majors are in Tampa attending the prestigious festival. There, they are able learn from professional conductors and work alongside other skilled students.

“[All-State] brings in a bunch of kids around the state and puts them in big groups. [They] learn some music and perform a few days later,” vocal junior Kyle Watson said. “The best part of All-State has to be the friends you make. If you participate in several honor groups, these are the same kids you’ll be seeing time after time. Personally, I’ve been in the same group with one guy four groups in a row. ”

Being able to attend All-State is not an easy task. The conference is highly selective, and the audition process requires vast amounts of time and preparation.

“Near the beginning of the year, you ask your teacher to try out for All-State,” Watson said. “Everyone that does has to take a [music theory] test and a sight-reading test. Depending on your scores, you are either placed in a certain group for later auditions or fail and don’t move on. There are a variety of groups with a variety of skill levels for vocalists and instrumentalists alike.”

The work will be worth it, as students will be able to show what they learned at the festival during a special performance on Jan. 17.

“Rehearsals are held on the last day, and [All-State attendees] put on a performance,” strings junior Emily Winters said. “It’s [unique] because these groups consist of some of the best performers in the state.”