At the beginning of the school year, band students auditioned for a prestigious group called All State. Two months later in early November, names were posted on the band room whiteboard, and the school learned that 18 students were accepted.
The 10 freshmen and sophomores who made it into the classical band participated in the All State Concert Band. The four juniors and seniors who got into the classical band played in the All State Symphonic Band. Additionally, two students made the All State Symphonic Orchestra, and two made the All State High School Jazz Band.
“This is the most [students] that we’ve ever had make it [from] our school,” band director Brian Kuperman said.
Not only did the number of students accepted make a school record, but it also meant Hagerty had the second most attendees from any school in the state.
The students who made it this year attended the conference in Tampa from Jan. 13 through Jan. 17. Many left school a few days early, as rehearsals started the Wednesday before the actual concert. These practices could go from early morning to late evening with only a lunch break.
“[There were] two rehearsals, except for the concert,” sophomore Ian Monreal said. “We had [a] four-hour rehearsal every day, and then a two-and-a-half-hour rehearsal.”
After rehearsing for two days, concerts started. Half of the performances took place on Friday, while the rest occurred on Saturday.
“[The concert] was a lot of fun. Nothing really went wrong,” freshman Django Rupert said, who performed with the high school jazz group.
In addition to practicing and performing, students were able to go to a convention center in their free time. This was set up in the center of downtown, and hosted hundreds of different booths, ranging from Florida colleges to musical shops and organizations.
“My favorite part of All State was going to the convention center and trying out all the new instruments [and] talking to people there and to the colleges,” sophomore Tyler Peacock said.
Freshman Hannah Lee had made All State on flute the year before, but for the All State Middle School Band. She experienced the conference in the same location, and was eager to play again.
“I feel like in All State, people are slightly more experienced,” Lee said. “I was also very nervous, but overall, it was a very enjoyable experience.”
Just before All State’s convention began, students auditioned for All County in mid-November and 38 made it. Though All State is a significant event, as it means the students who were accepted are best in the state, All County, that is just around the corner, if made, meant that they were best in Seminole County, and will perform on Jan. 31.
