October 24, 2023
Members of the Gilbert High School band and choir traveled to Indianola High School on Saturday for the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) All-State Auditions, and to say it went well would be an understatement.
Band, choir, strings — Gilbert will be represented at the All-State Musical Festival across the board.
Under the direction of high school band director Byron Tinder, Gilbert corralled eight all-state honors and had a second individual earn the prestigious honor of being a four-time all-state honoree.
Jonah White, a senior, joins 2022 GHS graduate Aubrey Mizerak as the school’s only four-time all-state members. He will play clarinet in the band.
Two more Mizerak family members, junior twins Laurel and Gretchen, are well on their way to becoming the third and fourth four-time members, as they each earned their third consecutive all-state honor. Laurel Mizerak, playing the clarinet, earned a position in the orchestra, while Gretchen Mizerak, also playing the clarinet, will be in the band.
Nathan Lee, a junior cello player, earned a spot in the orchestra. It’s the second time he’s been selected all-state.
First-time all-state members include:
•Aldo Escalera, senior — first flute, band.
•Jacob Tallman, freshman — third trombone, band.
•Tyler Anderson, junior — bass trombone, orchestra.
•Lillian Dahlstrom, sophomore — first alternate Bari sax, band.
Under the direction of choir director Tanner Stutzman, the GHS choir earned two all-state honors for:
•Molly Weiler, freshman — alto 1, choir.
•Evan Goetz, junior — bass 2, choir.
According to Mr. Tinder, there were 1,575 band members who auditioned statewide with approximately 300 earning all-state status. Of all music students — band and choir — statewide, approximately 1 percent make all state, Mr. Tinder said.
Congratulations to all of our all-state members! They will perform during the IHSMA All-State Festival, Nov. 16-18, at Iowa State University in Ames. The concert will be held at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 18.
