Young musicians unite at Concordia for All-State performances

More than 600 of Minnesota’s most accomplished high school musicians will gather at Concordia College for five days of lessons, rehearsals, and performances, including free concerts open to the public.

It’s all part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association All-State Bands, Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Choirs camps, which bring students together for intensive musical training and community-building experiences.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity for students from all across Minnesota to come together and to learn from esteemed conductors and staff, as well as each other,” said Jordan Bongaarts, program coordinator. “After camp is over, the All-State students bring their experience and knowledge back to their school ensembles and enrich their music programs around the state.”

Multiple Concordia music instructors are involved in All-State, including Dr. Stephanie Tubiolo, associate director of choirs and assistant professor of choral music, who is conducting the Soprano-Alto Choir.

“I am so honored and excited to make music with some of the most brilliant sopranos and altos across the state of Minnesota,” Tubiolo said. “Our repertoire embraces the vast expanse of sounds treble voices can make, from the warm and vibrant songs of Amy Beach to fiery and powerful Nordic folksong.”

Their program will include a Finnish song, “Käppee,” as sung by the Finnish group Värttinä, and "Father Thunder" by Laura Jēkabsone, based on Latvian folksongs, as well as the music of Minnesotan composer Shruthi Rajasekar, a former member of the All-State Soprano-Alto Choir.

Other Concordia musicians are serving as section coaches, such as Dr. Kelley Tracz for oboes, Russell Peterson for saxophones, Dr. Nat Dickey for trombones, and Dr. Eduard Teregulov for cellos.

The choral concert, which features three choirs, is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31. The band concert, which includes jazz, concert, and symphonic bands, is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, and the orchestra concert is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

All concerts are free, open to the public, and will be performed at Horizon Middle School, East Campus, in the Horizon Performing Arts Center in Moorhead.

The All-State musicians will gather again to perform at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Saturday, Feb. 20. Tickets for those concerts will be available for purchase in December, with proceeds going toward MMEA scholarships.

More information about All-State camps and performances can be found at MMEA.org.