ALL-STATE MUSIC
Over 800 students gather in Spa City for yearly conference
Bentonville High School Choral Director Terry Hicks led over 800 choral, orchestra and band students from across the state in the national anthem Thursday morning to open the 54th annual Arkansas All-State Music Conference — All-State Clinic at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
Mark Langley, choral director at Lakeside High School and president of the Arkansas Choral Director’s Association, welcomed the students and their directors, noting his amazement at their dedication and talent.
“Whether you realize it or not, being a member of the Arkansas All-State band, choir, orchestra, or jazz bands will be one of the crowning achievements of your lifetime,” he told the students. “Mathematically this year, you’re the top 5 and 10% of your section in Arkansas. You are the future of our music in Arkansas and you are the best that we have to offer.”
Hosted by ACDA and the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, the event has been held in Hot Springs since 2001. Each of the students who made All-State — 10 of whom are from Garland County — come together to work with some of the top, internationally-known clinicians in the world.
Julia Reynolds, ASBOA executive secretary-treasurer, said the performances offer a perfect showcase for the students to demonstrate their talent.
“They get to work with them for two days, and then Saturday morning, we have a concert that begins. Jazz begins at 10:30 (a.m.) in Horner (Hall), then choir begins at (noon) in Hall A, and orchestra begins at (noon) in the arena. It’s followed by the third band, the second band, and the first band. So if you wanted to hear some music, you got some great opportunities,” she said.
Reynolds, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving 24 years in the role, gave Thursday morning’s keynote address in which she encouraged students to keep music a part of their lives — whether or not they major in it — and share their gift and passion with others.
Russellville School District Band Director Dewayne Dove will take Reynolds’ place next year.
“What makes this one of my favorite events is I like to go listen a little bit at the first, you know, and then watch them get a rapport with the conductors, and then listen to them and watch them on the concert,” she said.
“I had that experience. I got to have it in high school and they’re getting to have it now.
“And it’s just … it’s fun to watch. There are children of students that I had when I taught in All-State that are in here, which is kind of fun. That makes me old, but, they are here, so it’s kind of like my grandkids in band, you know. They’re sitting there.”
Directors and other music educators receive professional development hours by attending the various clinic sessions offered. James Weaver, director of performing arts and sports for the National Federation of High School State Associations, led an important clinic on Thursday morning and afternoon regarding copyright compliance, Reynolds said.
“Then there are other clinics that help your teaching, help, specifically, administrating and all those different areas,” she said.
The Arkansas String Teachers Association is hosting string-specific clinics today at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts where the string instrument students are rehearsing. Other clinics are being offered by the Arkansas Music Educators Association and ACDA among others.
“One of the biggest things to me is the fellowship of the directors and the kids, and it’s not that way in all states. Some of the clinicians have said, they said they’re so afraid if they share something, they might beat them. So, but I feel like our state is very open to helping older, younger, and they’ll sit around and you’ll hear them talking out there at those tables,” she said.
“You know, ‘Well I’m trying to play this and what should I do on the second movement?’ And that is a pleasure to me.
Then they’re happy to see people. I’m happy to see my friends, you know. It’s a great time.”
All-State performances will close out the conference on Saturday afternoon, with ArkCDA concerts to be held in Hall A, and ASBOA concerts to be held in both Horner Hall and Bank OZK Arena.