Members of Warrior Choir prepare for coming All-State tryouts

As Friday and Saturday approach, 97 choir students will be busy trying to obtain a spot in Nebraska’s All-State Chorus. For the past several weeks sophomores, juniors, and seniors have been preparing for these auditions. They will take place at Westside, after school on Friday and all day Saturday. Senior Maddy Stark, who made All-State as a junior, will be trying out for her third year on Saturday.

“[Being in All-State] was a really cool experience because it was the best of the best high schoolers all in Nebraska, so it was interesting to see what we collaborated together as a choir,” Stark said. “It was honestly nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. It was two days straight of singing awesome, difficult pieces with an awesome director and all these really really talented kids. It was an unforgettable experience.”

Along with Stark, Vocal Music Director Doran Johnson said that being a student selected in All-State is a life changing experience. Johnson said that when the cuts for auditions are released on Friday, everyone should be prepared.

“I think [the directors] make it very clear as to what you need to do, where you need to be, and what the process is like so you know and you’re not coming into the audition not knowing anything that’s gonna happen,” sophomore Delaney Wetjen said. “I’m a little nervous for [the audition] because it’s recorded and I feel like I’m more nervous for a recording instead of in front of an actual person. But overall even if I don’t make it, it was still a really good experience to work out all the music.”

For juniors in Warrior Choir, auditions for All-State are a requirement. Seniors in Warrior Choir and sophomores in Concert Choir also have the ability to try out as well.