Boone, Iowa — The 2025 Iowa All-State Music Festival November 22nd, marks the 79th anniversary of the prestigious statewide event. On Saturday, October 25th, District auditions for the 277-member All-State Band, 220-member All-State Orchestra, and 601-member All-State Chorus were held at high schools in Le Mars, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Independence, Atlantic, Indianola, and Iowa City West.  Approximately 17% of the students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles. Selected students will rehearse in Ames on Friday and Saturday, November 21–22, culminating in the All-State Festival Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State University, Ames.

Atlantic Band Director Jarrod O’Donnell reports the Following Students were Selected to participate in the Iowa All-State Band & Orchestra, this past Saturday:

• Gabrielle Engler on Bass Clarinet (1st Year),
• Michael Hocamp on Tuba (1st Year),
• Katrina Williams was selected as an Alternate on Violin
• and Grace Mitchell on French Horn (4 years).

Mr. O’Donnell congratulated Grace Mitchell for Making All-State on French Horn all four years of her high school career. Of the 17 percent of students that are selected for this ensemble, O’Donnell said less than 1 percent of those chosen make it all four years. (All photos courtesy of Mr. O’Donnell)

Iowa PBS will record the concert for later broadcast. Broadcast dates and times will be available on the Iowa PBS website at www.iowapbs.org. The Iowa All-State Music Festival is presented under the auspices of the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) and the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA).