Every year in November, Alaska’s high school All-State musicians travel to the Anchorage area to perform pieces of music they’ve practiced by themselves.

Today six high school students representing Kodiak at All-State finish their last full day of rehearsals in Chugiak in preparation for a gala concert at West Anchorage High School. The musicians plan to bring back CDs of their performances when they return.

This year, choir students make up the majority of Kodiak’s All-State group. Four are pupils of Kodiak High School choir voice teacher Amy Brown: sopranos Anna Polum and Catherine Le and altos Hazel de los Santos and Carolyn Craig.

The concerts also feature KHS tuba player Josh Wheeler and correspondence student Emmy Titcombe.

For the Kodiak students, the All-State competition began in late September with an audition CD. The chorale students were asked to sing a group of scales and “America the Beautiful.”

“It can be a stressful time for the students,” Brown said, after their arrival in Anchorage.

KHS band director Dale Lhotka said he was very pleased with Wheeler’s audition.

“It’s an honor to be seated third in the tuba section as a freshman,” he said.

Wheeler said his favorite piece on the band’s program is Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide Suite.”

Next come a few long days of rehearsal and practice in small groups.

Polum, a KHS senior, said her favorite piece to sing with the group was David Brummer’s “I Am In Need Of Music.”

“At one point, all the bass come in, and everything is booming and vibrating,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a neater song.”

A KHS junior, this is Polum’s second year performing at All-State. After graduating she will seek a degree in music with an emphasis on music therapy.

De los Santos, who is a junior, said All-State provides an opportunity to sing different kinds of music. She performs in the KHS chamber ensemble.

“When I sing classical and jazz music I can hear my voice sounding deep and fuller,” de los Santos said. “It’s good for me.”

Lhotka said the number of people performing in both All-State auditions is down this year, something he also has seen in Kodiak. He attributes the decline to budget cuts about five years ago that hurt feeder programs.

“Band numbers are down at KHS, which is interesting because it corresponds with what they’re seeing at other high schools,” he said.

Lhotka said the good news is middle school programs are strong today, so he expects numbers should increase again.

Mirror writer Sam Friedman can be reached via e-mail at sfriedman@kodiakdailymirror.com