Every year, the Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) holds the All-State Festival, and students across the state audition to be recognized as some of the best singers and musicians among their peers. Due to the pandemic, the organization modified the festival to be a completely virtual experience this year.

The dedicated ensemble students at Mt. Hope High School adapted to the unique approach to audition for the festival. Mt. Hope student Emily Marino, a member of All-State Treble Chorus, said, “I’ve been doing All-state since the fourth-grade, and I know a lot of people from previous years. I was able to see all of my All-State friends, and it was nice to see them again, even though it was over Zoom.”

Virtual auditions were quite natural for the Mt. Hope students, as they have been meeting virtually for music classes for almost a year now. Though traditional academic classes returned to a hybrid of in-person and distance formats last fall, the music classes did not. They remain completely virtual.

Traditionally, students have auditions in-person for performing ensembles, including band, chorus, orchestra, or guitar ensemble. This year, students sent recordings of their individual performances. Once students were given feedback by their instructors, they sent their final recordings, and all recordings are being edited together by professional editors to create a virtual ensemble performance. Although students are missing the experience of performing together as a group and with other peers from across Rhode Island, the Mt.Hope students said they are thankful for the opportunity to perform at all.

Sixteen Mt. Hope students were named to All-State Performing Ensembles for the 2020-21 school year, and three Mt. Hope musicians had their auditions ranked No. 1 in the state for their specialties:

• Olivia Bullard,  No. 1 Alto in Jr. All-State Mixed Chorus;

• Hannah DeJesus, No. 1 All-State Guitar Ensemble;

• Rachel Ouellette, No. 1 Flute in the All-State Orchestra.

See the 16 honored singers and performers from Mt. Hope in the gallery of photos above.