2024 All-State Middle Level Chorus

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Information
Conductor
Registration & Audition Dates
Audition Application
Repertoire
Audition Materials

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS

What is the All-State Middle Level Chorus?
Students in sixth through eighth grades (whose teachers are NMEA members) are offered a chance to work with acclaimed conductors during even-years of the Nebraska Music Education Association Conference/Clinic. This is a one-day event with the final performance on the Lied Center for Performing Arts main stage. The 2024 All-State Middle Level Chorus will take place on Wednesday, November 20. Auditions will be held in the fall.

Who can attend?

  • Students attending must be registered and attending the school or home school listed on the registration
  • Students must be under the direction of an NMEA member
  • Students must be in the sixth - eighth grades during the 2024-2025 school year
  • The director MUST be registered and attend the Conference with their student(s).
  • If you wish to become a member of this organization visit: www.nafme.org

2024 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS CONDUCTOR

Greg Gilpin is a celebrated ASCAP award-winning choral composer and arranger and a highly respected choral conductor. He is known throughout the United States leading performances at New York City’s iconic Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center as well as Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. His international appearances include the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, Royal Festival Hall in London, England and Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. Mr. Gilpin is also a producer and musician in the recording industry and is Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, a distinguished choral publisher.

In 2021, Mr. Gilpin wrote the score for the award-winning short film, “Rosie’s Rescue” and was awarded “Best Score” for this same movie. He also teamed up with well-known opera singer, Angela Brown, and created the world premiere of a thrilling new arrangement of “What Child is This?”, debuted by Ms. Brown and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.

Mr. Gilpin is a proud member of ACDA, NAfME, SAG-AFTRA, and is a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

2024 MIDDLE LEVEL ALL-STATE REGISTRATION AND AUDITION DATES

August 19 - September 9 @ 11:59 p.m. CST All-State registration for students open through NMEA website ($10 application fee per student)
September 11 - September 23 @ 11:59 p.m. CST Google form opens and closes for audition uploads
Mid-October Middle Level ensemble selections announced
November 1 Middle Level registration fee for selected participants due ($50 registration fee per student)

 

The $50 registration fee covers lunch, snacks, and t-shirts provided to selected students by NMEA. Please Note: NMEA policy states that no refunds will be given for singers unable to attend.

The All-State Middle Level Chorus Audition Application is Now Closed

2024 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS REPERTOIRE

PLEASE NOTE: The program has changed slightly due to conductor request.

TITLE COMPOSER PUBLISHER PARTS
Festival Sanctus John Leavitt Alfred Publishing SAB
Sesere Eeye Traditional Torres Strait Islands Song, arr. Greg Gilpin Alfred Publishing 3-Part Mixed
Ave Maria Jacob Arcadelt, arr. J. Edmund Hughes Pavane Publishing SAB
Windy Nights Robert Louis Stephenson, Cynthia Gray Heritage Music Press 3-Part Mixed
Climbin' Up the Mountain, Children! Spiritual, arr. Rollo Dilworth Hal Leanord Publishing 3-Part Mixed
We Sing! We Rise! We Soar! Greg Gilpin BriLee Music 3-Part Mixed

 

MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS REPERTOIRE PACKETS

J.W. Pepper has all the music put together in packets for teachers to purchase. Below is the link where you can place your order.

Middle Level Chorus Packets

AUDITION MATERIALS

NMEA will utilize Google Forms to collect student auditions, which will be available when the window for audition submissions opens. Auditions will include:

  • Scale
  • Excerpt of either "My Country Tis of Thee" or "We Shall Overcome"
  • Solo Excerpt

1. Scale

Students will sing a scale a cappella in the key of their choosing on solfege or monosyllable. Teachers may give students their starting pitch.

2. Excerpt

Students will sing "My Country Tis of Thee" or "We Shall Overcome" a cappella.* Teachers may give students their starting pitch in the same key as their scale.

*If a student is unable to sing either of these songs due to personal reasons, please contact Gail Carpenter-Johnson at [email protected].

3. Solo Excerpt

The solo chosen by the student and/or director should reflect the voice part for which the student is auditioning and must be 40-60 seconds in length. This could consist of a solo the student has prepared or an excerpt from prepared choral literature. 

AUDITION INFORMATION

Staring in 2024, there will be a $10.00 audition fee for all students who audition for the 2024 All-State Middle Level Chorus and a $50.00 participation fee for those students that are selected. There will be no limit to the amount students who can audition from each school.