All-State Music Festival
The annual All-State Music Festival will be held in April at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire. Sponsored by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association (NHMEA), the All-State Music Festival is a three-day event culminating in performances by young musicians from all across the state. This year’s 250 participants, ultimately chosen out of a pool of over 2,000 applicants, were selected through a rigorous audition process that took place last December. At the All-State Music Festival, the chosen musicians will practice under the guidance of nationally-renowned conductors and music educators, culminating in a final, professional manner.
“It’s fun to learn music in three to five days, and because everyone there is so talented, it’s a fantastic opportunity to also learn from other people.”
This year, four Exonians were selected to participate in the festival. One of them is lower Sophia Cho, who has been playing the cello from a young age. Having been inspired by cellist Yo Yo Ma and the song “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saens, Cho took up cello lessons at an early age and discovered her passion for the instrument. “I love all the emotions I can convey through the cello by means of its wide range of sounds,” she said.
At Exeter, Cho is an active member of both the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. She has participated in orchestras since the age of eight, and her experience with orchestra performances at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege influenced her decision to participate in the All-State Music Festival. “I really like playing in an orchestra because it’s always interesting to see and hear the different instrumental parts click together,” Cho said. “I also love the energy that comes from playing with a large group of fellow musicians.”
Lower Emy Li will also be participating in the All-State Music Festival. Like Cho, she has been playing the violin from a young age, with her interest in the instrument gradually growing over time. “I really just love the sound of the violin,” Li said. “I started playing it in 5th grade and wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not, but I ended up really enjoying it.”
Participating last year in the All-State Band as a clarinet player, Li was inspired to apply again. “Playing in an orchestra is amazing because all the different instrument parts come together to form something special that just can’t be made with a single instrument,” Li said. “In a big group, everyone has to work together to create that wholesome sound.” Li is an accomplished musician, having competed in district competitions and regional music festivals in her home state of Indiana. Currently, she is a part of the UNH Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Lowers Thomas Matheos and Nathan Sun were also selected for the All-State Music Festival this year. A dedicated flute player, Matheos has participated in All-Southern California festivals and won awards in various music competitions. Matheos appreciates the beauty of orchestral music, saying, “Orchestra pieces sound awesome.” For him, music is a way to elude the complications of life for a moment and concentrate on something else. “Playing is a freeing and relaxing escape from reality,” he said.
Lower Meili Gupta participated in the New Hampshire All-State Festival last year and expressed appreciation for the experience. “I’m always looking for new experiences that will develop my musical learning,” she said. Gupta also emphasized the teachings that this year’s students will ultimately gain from their participation, saying, “It’s fun to learn music in three to five days, and because everyone there is so talented, it’s a fantastic opportunity to also learn from other people.”