Becoming members of the MMEA All-State band is a great a accomplishment for some Orono students. On Saturday Feb. 16, eight Orono band members participated in all state orchestra, concert band and symphonic band.

According to MMEA, students audition in the spring, and if selected,then they participate in a summer camp lasting about a week, which gives students time to get to know each other and the music they will perform. They then come back together in February to perform at Orchestra Hall.

“All-State auditioning requires recordings of a solo of your choice, etudes assigned by MMEA, and a scale sheet,” senior Annika Sorenson said.

According to the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State program, All-State bands have been performing for almost 73 years, welcoming students from all over Minnesota. They performed pieces like; Symphony in d minor – III. Allegro non troppo by César Franck, Firefly by Ryan George, and An American Elegy by Frank Ticheli.

“I love contributing to an ensemble and joining with other musicians to create something beautiful and bigger than all of us,” senior Katherine Dore said.