Seven EPHS students qualify for All-State music honors

A combination of talent and passion for music has helped seven Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) juniors and seniors earn 2024 Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State music honors.

The students were among 628 selected from across the state to be part of the All-State band, choir, and orchestra groups.

Jaysen Anderson, EPHS principal, said, “Congratulations to our incredible music students for earning spots in the prestigious All-State competition – your talent and dedication make us so proud.”

He added, “A heartfelt thank you to the teachers, coaches, and staff who have guided and supported these students every step of the way: your commitment to their success is inspiring.”

The EPHS honorees are:

All-State Band
Kotono Kazama (11), trumpet.
Arya Mehta (12), bass clarinet.
Annika Rice (11), trumpet.

All-State Choir
Abigail Swanson (12), soprano.

All-State Orchestra
Claire Lee (11), violin.
Alexandra Wahl (12), bass.
Arun Wahlquist (12), cello.

The students attended week-long All-State music camps last summer at St. John’s University in Collegeville and Concordia University in Moorhead.

During the camps, students polished their technical skills with guest conductors, created music, and socialized with other student musicians. The camps culminated in concerts at St. John’s and Concordia.

The All-State groups will perform again on Feb. 14 and 15 at Minnesota Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis as part of the MMEA Midwinter Convention.

Angelique Rowell, one of EPHS’s orchestra directors, said, “We are so proud of the students who made All-State this year. Their hard work and dedication paid off. Congratulations to everyone who made it in orchestra, band, and choir.”

Mike Whipkey, EPHS band director, added, “Making it into the Minnesota All-State groups is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations to all of these wonderful musicians.”

‘Everybody is really passionate’

All-State requires a rigorous audition and application process. Students recorded themselves playing in a single, continuous take.

Jill Boyd, the EPHS choir director, said, “The All-State audition process is not for the faint of heart. It requires students to sing and play multiple pieces and excerpts of music at the highest level. Furthermore, acceptance into an All-State ensemble is a huge commitment.  

“Making an All-State group is one of the highest honors a high school musician can achieve and our K-12 music staff are so proud of the diligence, discipline, and excellence our All-State students have demonstrated,” she added.

Junior Annika Rice said that despite the difficulty of the audition process, she applied for All-State because she wanted the opportunity to play with other students who were also passionate about music, as well as the chance to achieve All-State honors. “So I was willing to put in the work to get there,” she said.

The students said they enjoyed being with other musicians their age who shared their dedication to music and high performance.

Senior Abi Swanson, a soprano in the All-State Choir, said she enjoyed spending a week living, practicing, and performing with other student musicians. “It was a really fun experience, and it was cool to play or sing with people that have kind of the same skill levels.”

Students had the opportunity to interpret and perform a wide range of music, guided by professional musicians and conductors.

Kotono Kazama, a junior trumpet player, said her group had the opportunity to work with Henry Dorn, a professional musician who teaches at St. Olaf College. 

“He was our conductor, along with the composer is one of our pieces,” she said. “It was really interesting to hear what he wanted out of the piece and be able to bring that to life.”

Senior Arun Wahlquist said, “Our director’s name was Dr. LaSaundra Booth, and she was a guest conductor. We played an arrangement of ‘Jupiter,’ a few movements from ‘The Montgomery Variations,’ which was about civil rights, a piece called ‘Danzon No. 2,’ and ‘Supermaximum.'”

When asked for advice for other student musicians considering All-State auditions, senior Arya Mehta encouraged them not to be afraid to try.

“I would tell them to do it,” she said. “Just because it’s a challenge doesn’t mean you can’t do it. And if you put in the work, it’s so rewarding to be able to play at that level.”