Three Yelm High School students were accepted into the 2024 Washington Music Educators Association High School All-State performing ensembles. The musicians will join other high school students from around the state to rehearse and perform in concert under the direction of world-renowned conductors.
The honor ensembles will meet in Yakima on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. Heidi Cornwall, a freshman string bassist, Cade McBride, a senior trombonist, and Ryan Sudduth, a junior clarinetist, were accepted after submitting audition materials in the fall. When they arrive in Yakima, the music students will rehearse for two days and perform in the concert Feb. 17.
The All-State performing groups feature choirs, orchestras and bands. Cornwall was accepted into an orchestra; McBride earned a spot in the wind ensemble; and Sudduth will play in the concert band. They will play four to five songs at the concert held at Capitol Theatre in Yakima.
This is McBride’s third time participating in the All-State honor band and the first time for Cornwall and Sudduth. McBride said the honor is one he hopes will stand out on a resume as he applies to colleges.
“It sets you up with connections that can help you get to the next level,” said McBride, who is applying for schools with low brass trombone programs. “The first two times were really fun. The first one was at a big opera, and the second one was the whole region.”
From now until mid-February, the students will practice their own parts in preparation of their group performances. Sudduth said this will be a challenge and a significant shift from Dr. Scott Pierson’s band class, which always practices together.
“I don’t know anybody that’s in the band or in my section,” Sudduth said. “We basically just prepare our piece to the best of our ability, and then we show up and we play it all together. Usually, there’s a clinician or a director that will correct all the small pieces so we sound more uniform.”
McBride and Sudduth have performed in front of large crowds before, but Cornwall said she has not. She learned about the All-State audition from her personal bass teacher and is looking forward to the opportunity.
“I like the feeling of finishing the piece that I’ve worked on because it’s half the journey,” she said. “By presenting it to the people, they get to see how much work you put in and how good it sounds.”
All three students have played instruments since their early youth and dream of playing professionally to some degree. McBride hopes to major in trombone performance in college and dabble in composing. Sudduth is considering college and potentially teaching music. Cornwall is undecided but wants to play for the rest of her life.
Professional musicians credit their All-State experience as crucial in their decision to pursue careers in music, according to a release from Yelm Community Schools.
