Two NHS vocalists performing All-State Chorus concert

Two juniors at Newton High School have earned their spots in All-State Chorus and will be performing with hundreds of other Iowa students during a music festival concert in Ames this coming weekend. Katelyn Elscott, their vocal music teacher, said the last time a vocalist made All-State Chorus was in 2018.

Ian Alexander and Kaden Banwell will both be singing in the tenor section of the All-State Chorus, which is performing alongside All-State Band and All-State Orchestra during the 79th annual All-State Music Festival Concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University.

In total, Elscott said 1,098 high school musicians will share the stage that day, which represents approximately the top 17 percent of those who auditioned. About 600 students are vocalists. The festival is presented by the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association.

“We haven’t had a vocalist accepted into the chorus since 2018, and it’s a pretty awesome thing,” Elscott said in a recent interview with Newton News. “We’re growing. We had 13 students audition this year alone, which was already significantly more than previous years as well.”

Banwell was shocked to see that his first audition as a tenor got him a spot on the All-State Chorus. Typically, he sings baritone, and he has auditioned as a baritone for state in the past but was ultimately unsuccessful. Alexander was surprised, too, especially given how grueling the auditioning process can be.

Although students get their hands on music as early as August, it still doesn’t feel like enough time before the October auditions. Alexander said vocalists have to come into the auditions as prepared as they can because they never know which parts they will be asked to sing.

Elscott credited Alexander and Banwell for having a strong work ethic and having put many, many hours outside of regular rehearsal times and lessons to knowing the material. She said both are striving to find the small details to make them that much better. They go beyond surface-level learning and push themselves.

“They don’t stop,” Elscott said with a laugh. “I sometimes have to tell them to, OK, pause; take a moment before we chisel away at a few more things.”

Banwell said what he likes most about choir is how personal it feels.

“It’s a part of you,” Banwell said. “Anyone can do it if they have the voice.”

Alexander feels like choir is a more social experience.

“In choir it feels like there are more social connections,” Alexander said. “There are other strengths but choir is kind of unique for that.”

Elscott isn’t surprised to see Alexander and Banwell make All-State Chorus. She has watched them grow as musicians, which seemed like a common occurrence during the months leading up to auditions. To her, it is important for students to feel like they had a good audition. Getting in is just the cherry on top.

“It’s fulfilling to see all their hard work gets paid off and you can see it beyond what they have already done,” Elscott said. “For me personally, I was an All-Stater as well so I’m happy they get to experience all the fun things and rehearsals I did when I was in high school.”