Union High School students who will be attending the 2021 Iowa All-State Music Festival include clockwise, left to right, Sam Klein, Matt Carlson, Laura Rempe, Joseph Bistline, and Gabe Jesse. Contributed photo

Five Union High School students have been selected to attend the Iowa All-State Music Festival. This is the highest individual honor an Iowa high school musician can receive. Joseph Bistline, son of Mike and Jen Bistline, Matthew Carlson, son of Steph and Reid Carlson, Sam Klein, son of Shane and Sara Klein, and Laura Rempe, daughter of Bruce and Mabel Rempe, were all selected for the Iowa All State Chorus. Gabriel Jesse, son of Brian and Chris Jesse, was selected for the All State Band on Clarinet. The vocalists are students of Casey Tecklenburg and Gabriel is a student of Mike Bistline.

The 2021 Festival will celebrate the 75th anniversary of this prestigious event. District Auditions for the 278-piece All-State Band, 214-piece All-State Orchestra, and 602-member All-State Chorus were held Saturday, October 23, 2021 at Le Mars, Hampton, Independence, Atlantic, Indianola, and Washington. Approximately 17% of students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles.

Participants will rehearse in Ames on Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, 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 20, 2021. Iowa Public Television will record the concert for rebroadcast. 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.

TIckets are $25.00 each, plus fees, and all seats are reserved. Tickets may be obtained for the Iowa All-State Music Festival Concert online via www.ticketmaster.com. Sales begin October 26th, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.. Ticketmaster charges a per-ticket convenience fee.