Eleven Coventry music students were recently selected to take part in the RI Music Educators Association (RIMEA) Junior and Senior Division All-State festivals.
Students in grades seven through 12 from across the state auditioned on Nov. 17 at Moses Brown School for a chance to participate in the festivals.
Coventry All-State Performers:
Coventry High School Chorus: junior Jenna Larson (Alto Voice), Senior Division Woman’s Choir and freshman Mikayla Dubis (Alto Voice), Junior Division Mixed Choir.
Coventry High School Band: freshman John Palmer (Trumpet), Junior Division Concert Band, senior Connor Briden (Baritone Horn), Senior Division Concert Band, and senior Patrick Shea (Drum Set), Senior Division Jazz Ensemble. (Patrick placed #1 in the state for his category!)
Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School Chorus: Katherine Fidler, Devlin Cook-Hines, Brittany Pusateri, Brenna Griswold, Junior All-State Mixed Chorus. Patricia Tombs, Junior All-State Treble Chorus
Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School Band: Jason Hoskins, Junior All-State Concert Band.
Each student was asked to prepare selected scales and pieces of music to perform for a judge and were also required to sight-sing music. Students rehearsed for weeks before the auditions with their music teachers, who also serve as All-State sponsors.
Students that auditioned for the Junior Division vocal groups were asked to sing "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee) in the appropriate key (Soprano - F Major, Alto - D Major, Tenor - G Major and Baritone - D Major.) and “My Heart is Offered Still to You”. Depending on which instrument the student played, the Junior Division instrumental groups required assigned selections, scales, and improvisation for the auditions.
Those who auditioned for the Senior Division vocal groups were required to sing “O vos omnes” by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Instrumental students auditioning for the Senior Division had to perform memorized and chromatic scales along with improvisational and assigned pieces.
The selected students will attend several rehearsals to prepare for the All-State chorus, orchestra and band concerts scheduled for Sunday, March 24, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.
Tickets for the concerts are $10 and will be sold at the door or at any of the rehearsals scheduled before the event.