All-State High School Band

LMEA sponsors two All-State bands – All-State Symphonic Band, which includes approximately 60 students, and All-State Concert Band, which includes approximately 80 students. Band students are selected as a result of district (1st round) and state (2nd round) auditions.

2025 ALL-STATE SYMPHONIC BAND CLINICIAN: Dr. Robert Carnochan


Robert Carnochan

April 30, 1963 – September 18, 2024

 

On behalf of Louisiana Music Educators, our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Robert M. Carnochan and the Frost School of Music-University of Miami.  Please accept our deepest sympathies during this painful time.

All-State Program for Symphonic Band: TBA

2025 ALL-STATE CONCERT BAND CLINICIAN: Amanda Drinkwater

Amanda Drinkwater currently serves as Director of Fine Arts for the Lewisville Independent School District. Lewisville ISD includes 61 campuses designated into five feeder patterns: Flower Mound, Hebron, Lewisville, Marcus, and The Colony High Schools. LISD schools are located within 127 square miles approximately twenty-five miles Northwest of Dallas, Texas. Ms. Drinkwater formerly served twenty-three years as a Texas music educator, with teaching opportunities at Leander High School (1996-2001), The Colony High School (2001-2003), and Marcus High School (2003-2018). She received her academic training at Louisiana State University and at the University of Kansas in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting, respectively. Ms. Drinkwater’s concert bands consistently earned superior division ratings at the University Interscholastic League Concert & Sight-Reading contests. Under her direction, the Marcus Wind Symphony was named a TMEA Honor Band finalist in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014, and performed as the TMEA 5A Honor Band at the 2015 TMEA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The Marcus Wind Symphony was a featured ensemble at the Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic in 2007 and 2012 and was recognized five times as a National Wind Band Honors finalist. Ms. Drinkwater’s marching ensembles earned eleven consecutive trips to the 5A/6A Texas State UIL Marching Contest and were consistent Bands of America finalists and recipients of various caption honors.  In 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 (5A), and 2014 (6A) the Marcus Marching Band earned the UIL Texas State Marching Championship, and in 2016, the group earned third place at the State Marching Band Contest. The program was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield for excellence in marching band performance and the Sudler Flag for excellence in concert band performance in 2008 and 2014 respectively. Ms. Drinkwater was named five times to ‘Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers’, and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Bandmasters Association. She has been the recipient of the Music Educators National Conference ‘Excellence in Teaching Music’ Award (2009), the Bayard H. Friedman ‘Hero’ Award for contributions to Music Education in Texas (2011), and the UIL Sponsor of Excellence (2015).

All-State Program for Concert Band: TBA

INFORMATION ABOUT DISTRICT LEVEL (1st ROUND) AUDITIONS

Each of the nine LMEA Districts will hold a district level 1st round qualifying audition to determine the students who will qualify for the 2nd round state level audition. Students must audition in their school’s LMEA district for the 1st round audition.

Date, time, fees, and location for the 1st round audition are set by the District Director for his/her district.

Required Form: Student Information Release Form

  • 1st Round – District directors will require students to submit either this form or their specific district’s form for 1st round auditions.
  • 2nd Round – No student’s audition recording will be accepted for 2nd Round adjudication without the receipt of this form by the District’s recording date. Follow your District Director’s instructions for submitting the LMEA Student Information Release Form.

AUDITION CUTS FOR 2024 (ETUDES AND PREPARED SELECTIONS) – These are to be used in all 2nd Round auditions and may also be used in 1st Round auditions.  The cut sheet includes percussion requirements. If you have any questions, check with your District Director.

INFORMATION ABOUT STATE LEVEL (2nd ROUND) AUDITIONS

The format of the Second Round audition is a Live Monitored Audition which will be submitted as an mp3 file. 

  • District directors will verify that teachers of all students participating in these auditions are current members of LMEA.
  • All “2nd round” auditions will be audio recorded by the District Director or his/her designee(s) and submitted as an mp3 file to the Division Chair for adjudication.
  • The date, time, and location will be set by the district, but must adhere to the current year’s state deadlines.

DEADLINES for 2024-25:

  • District Deadlines – District Directors will provide procedural information and set the deadline for receiving checks and student information from schools in their district. This deadline may be before the state’s deadline.
  • Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Deadline for completion of all 2nd round auditions and the receipt of all student registrations and audition fees by the district director or his/her designee.
  • Monday, October 14, 2024 (by 11:59 pm) – Results for the All-State Bands and Orchestra Winds will be posted online. Check ALL lists. Registration forms for students selected to an ensemble will be opened once rosters are posted.

AUDITION CUTS FOR 2024 (ETUDES AND PREPARED SELECTIONS) – These cuts are for wind and percussion players and must be used in all state level (2nd round) auditions. If you have any questions, check with your District Director.

AUDITION RESULTS

  • Results will be posted on this website by Monday, October 14, 2024 (11:59 pm) or as soon as possible once they are finalized for all ensembles requiring wind and percussion players.
  • Check results for Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Orchestra Winds.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS SELECTED TO AN ALL-STATE ENSEMBLE

LOCATION, DEADLINES, FEES, FOOD

  • Location – Hilton New Orleans Riverside (all rehearsals and concerts)
  • Registration Deadline – Monday, October 28, 2024 by 11:59pm (All-State registration form, All-State permission form, fees, and if applicable, LMEA Academic Award form)
  • Registration Fee – $85 (All-State registration fees pay for music, nationally-celebrated clinician, All-State patch, All-State t-shirt, LMEA Academic Award (if applicable), event insurance, other expenses related to hosting the rehearsals and concert)
  • Three (3) Evening Meals – $120 (total for all 3 dinners including all tax and gratuity)
    The evening meals are required for all students and will be served buffet style inside the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Dinners will include a fresh salad, hearty main course, two sides, dessert, and beverage.

DONATIONS
Links to information and ways to help support Louisiana’s talented LMEA All-State students can be found below. Join us as we celebrate their hard work and dedication, and this prestigious achievement.

Donation LetterA downloadable Word doc with suggested modifications that teachers can customize to fit each student’s situation

FAQ Sheet Detailed information on how to support Louisiana’s talented young musicians cover their All-State expenses (registration and evening meals only) by donating to students through LMEA’s portal

Donation Form/LMEA PortalTo donate to a specific student(s), school(s), or All-State ensemble events


SCHEDULE

  • Onsite check-in and the first rehearsals will be on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
  • Both concerts will be on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
  • Detailed rehearsal schedules will be posted as soon as available.
  • Hotel map

REGISTRATION FORMS

  • Student Forms – Important registration information, required forms, and optional forms.
  • Academic Award Form (OPTIONAL) – A student who has a verified cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher must upload the verified academic award form when completing the online All-State Student Registration Form. (Only 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are eligible for this award.) The deadline is the same as the “registration due” deadline.

HOTEL INFORMATION: (Information can also be found under the Conference tab in the menu.)