By: Mike Glesinger PANHANDLE POST
The Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA) hosted the 2022 All State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra concerts, November 18, at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
Each year, approximately 3000 of the best high school musicians in the state audition for this event. Selection as a member of one of these groups is one of the highest music honors attainable in Nebraska. Following the auditions, three Alliance High School students were selected. AHS juniors, Tallan Ackerman and Matthias Benzel were among the 440 students selected to be a part of the 2022 All-State Chorus. Sophomore Daulton Mangus (tuba), was among the 161 students selected to be part of the 2022 All-State Band.
The All-State selections gathered in Lincoln November 16-17-18 for rehearsal and then performed a public concert on Friday, November 18 at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts. Dr. Sandra Snow, Professor of Choral Conducting and Music Education at the Michigan State University College of Music, was the Guest Conductor for the Vocal music concert. Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, Dean-Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario was the Guest Conductor for the Instrumental music concert. The All-State Band performed 4 selections...Bright Shadow Fanfare composed by Nicole Piunno. Shimmering Sunshine composed by Kevin Day. Shenandoah composed by Omar Thomas . The Stormchasers composed by Robert Sheldon.
The All-State Chorus performed 7 selections.....Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres composed by Stephen Paulus. In virtuta tua domine composed by Grzegorg Gorczycki. Nu’oli composed by Robert Lowry / arr. Jace Saplan. Red River Valley arr. Carol Barnett. Arroz con leche composed by Carlos Guastavino. A Survival Plan of Sorts composed by Melissa Dunphy. When Thunder Comes composed by Mari Esabel Valverde
The public concert was well attended. The Nebraska Music Education Association hosts this event each school year.
Laura Mangas is the Alliance High School Instrumental Music Instructor and Christina Kloch is the Vocal Music Instructor.
