Local vocalists recently attended the 69th Annual All State Choir and Orchestra Festival. After the football playoff game on October 28, Kley Heumiller, Sarah Swier, Kimberly Tolsma, and I made our way to Rapid City with choir director Autumn Schultz. We got to our hotel around 1:00 A.M. and had to be up, ready and singing by 7:45 A.M. Friday morning! We practiced most of the day with a few 30 minute breaks between sessions.

For lunch and supper, we got to try new places to eat. We kept the tradition going and went to a haunted house at night.

With the concert Saturday evening, we had to wake up early again to do a final rehearsal. Once that was done, we went to the hotel to get dressed and ready for the concert. The concert sounded so beautiful and the experience itself is something unbelievable.

Being able to actually go this year made me extra sad that last year was cancelled. I am very thankful for a choir teacher that pushes students out of their comfort zone and makes sure her students do their best. I also got to go to my last All State Concert with three amazing juniors! My time in Rapid with everyone was even better than I thought it would be.

Russell Svenningsen of Augustana University directed the choir. They performed seven selections: “Star Spangled Banner,” “How Can You Buy the Sky,” “Hope,” “O Vos Omnes,” “I Am Alive,” “Believe in Love,” and a combined orchestra and chorus selection, “I Hear America Singing” (directed by orchestra director Dr. Kevin F.E. Sütterlin).