ROHS Students Selected for the 2016 Iowa All State Chorus
Sean Griffen, Harris Rogerson, Abigail Sherman, and Elsa Wemhoff, students at Red Oak High School, have attained the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians by being selected as members of the 2016 All State Chorus. Sean is the son of Paul and Ellen Griffen, Harris is the son of Don Rogerson and Jennifer Horner, Abigail is the daughter of Jedd and Kara Sherman, and Elsa is the daughter of Pete and Linnea Wemhoff. Tim Marsden is the Vocal Music Director at Red Oak High School.
The 2016 Festival will celebrate the 70th anniversary of this prestigious event. District Auditions for the 281-piece All-State Band, 201-piece All State Orchestra and 601-member All-State Chorus were held Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Storm Lake, Hampton, Manchester, Atlantic, Indianola, and Washington. Approximately 17% of the students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles. Participants will rehearse in Ames on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19, and the Festival Concert will be presented to the public at 7:30 P.M. in Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State University, Ames, on Saturday evening, November 19, 2016. Iowa Public Television will record the concert for re-broadcast. Please check the IPTV website (www.iptv.org) for the exact dates and times. This program is under the auspices of the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association.
Red Oak had 16 students who auditioned for the All State Chorus and began working on the music at the beginning of August. Mr. Marsden said that he was so proud of all of his students for being focused and working so hard and so long on this challenging literature and that the choral music department is better because of the commitment that these wonderful student musicians have made. He would also like to publically thank Kara Sherman for all of her help with this process, she has been a life-saver and a wonderful assistance to Marsden and the students. Red Oak is a truly blessed community to have such wonderful students and musicians in our community!