Ethan Sexauer, a Mount Pleasant High School musician, has been selected as first-chair of the violin section in the All-State Orchestra based on seating auditions conducted Thursday, opening day of the three-day Iowa All-State Music Festival in Ames. Sexauer, a senior who also plays trumpet in the high school symphonic and jazz bands, was selected all four years for the All-State Orchestra.
Also in Ames participating in the All-State Festival from Mount Pleasant are Robbie Heaton, Tien Nguyen and Natalie McCormick, all in the All-State Chorus.
Being named All-State is the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians.
The 2022 festival will celebrate the 76th anniversary of this prestigious event. District auditions for the 278-piece All-State Band, 214-piece All-State Orchestra and 601-member All-State Chorus were held in October at LeMars, Hampton, Independence, Atlantic, Indianola and Washington. Approximately 17 percent of the students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles.
Participants will rehearse in Ames Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, and the Festival Concert will be presented to the public at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Hilton Coliseum, at Iowa State University, in Ames. Iowa Public Television will record the concert for re-broadcast November 24 at 7:00 p.m.