All-State has been a tradition since Mrs. Schultz started teaching here in Avon. All-State is a state-wide event where students from all over the state come together to sing inalargegroupconcert.Avon’s mainquartetthisyearincludes Sarah Swier, Kimberly Tolsma, Noah Watchorn, and Kley Heumiller. The alternates this year include Hailey Gillette, Erica Cahoy, Caleb Wallinga, and Landon Thury. There are a lot of small towns that have decided to give up All-State, so Mrs. Shultz is so glad that we have stuck with it for so long. When asking Noah Watchorn about his experience with All-State this is what he had to say, “I had a wonderful experience at All-State choir. I got to experience being among the best high school choirs in South Dakota, directed by an amazing and eye-opening director. As well as, seeing how music can bring all types of students from across South Dakota to perform beautiful pieces of music in great ways.”

When preparing for All-State,Mrs.Shultzwillhandout themusicrightawayinAugust. Theywillstartlearningafewof thesongsasafullchoirfortheir upcoming fall concert. Then after everyone auditions, Mrs. Shultz will choose the quartet andthealternates.Afterchoosing, thequartetsandalternates start to run sectional work to learntherestofthesongs.They attendtwoAll-Stateworkshops in October. One of them is in Mitchell at DWU and the other is in Vermillion at USD. “I’m very sad to be finished with my last year at All-State with such a great group of students. There is nothing else like singing with a group of 1000 other students who are just as passionate about music as I am.” Says Kimberly Tolsma when asked about her experience at All-State.

It is a great experience for them to bond for an entire weekend while singing with a talented orchestra, trying out new restaurants, and creating awesome memories this year. Because of the football playoffs this year, they did not arrive in Sioux Falls until three in the morning so they were pretty tuckeredoutbuttheystillmade the most of it. “It’s always been an exciting thing to go to. You get to meet a lot of new people. It’s a good experience. It is a goodwaytobetteryourselfand be involved. It has all around been a fun experience.” says Kley Heumiller when asked about his experience at All-State.

Another exciting event that happened over the weekend was Sarah Swier and Kley Heumiller both receiving the four-yearAll-Statechoiraward given by the SDHSAA. They along with fifty-four other students received this in front of one thousand other kids. This was the first time since Mrs. Shultz has been teaching that a student has received this. It shows their leadership and dedication to the department and she was thrilled for them! Sarah Swier says this about All-Statewhenaskedabouther experience, “I'm sad that this chapter of my life has come to a close. All-State choir has been a memorable experience in my high school career. I want to thank Mrs. Schultz for all the preparation and all the quartet members for making it so enjoyable.”