Musicians head to state

Three Woodbury High School students have been selected for prestigious all-state music ensembles.

According to Sara O’Connor, a member of the Minnesota Music Educators Association and band director at Bailey and Red Rock elementary schools “this is like the music student’s equivalent to making state in a sport,”

“This is a huge accomplishment for the students,” she said.

Jacob Dodd, Alex Huffman, and Amanda Rudnickas have been selected for membership in Minnesota Music Educators (MMEA) all-state ensembles for the 2008-09 school year. These talented musicians were three of 581 students selected from over 2,000 who auditioned this spring for a position in one of the seven MMEA All-State performing groups. The students will attend summer camps in August at the College of St. Benedict (orchestra) and the University of Minnesota Duluth (bands).

Students will have the opportunity to work with some of the finest conductors and music educators in the country, as well as meet other outstanding music students from all across the state of Minnesota.

All camps start Monday, Aug. 4, and conclude Saturday, Aug. 9 with a 1:30 p.m. concert. The students will also gather next February in Minneapolis for rehearsals and performances at Orchestra Hall and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

In addition to being chosen as a member of the 2008-09 all-state symphonic band on tenor saxophone, some of Dodd’s other musical accomplishments include 2008 SEC All-Conference Band, the Woodbury High School Jazz Band, Woodbury High School Marching Band drum major, Woodbury High School Wind Ensemble section leader, playing piano and keyboards at Pilgrim Baptist Church and winning the Omega Psi Phi Regional Talent Hunt Competition - piano, for which he will perform in the National Honors concert in July.

Huffman, who will be a member of the 2008-09 All-State Concert Band as a trumpet player, has also been a member of the Minnesota Youth Jazz bands for the last two years and has participated in the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth jazz band program for two years as well. He has studied trumpet privately with Bill Simenson at K&S conservatory for five years and was a member of the Woodbury High School Marching Band this year.

Previously a member of the MMEA 2007-08 all-state concert band, Rudnickas was selected to play oboe and English horn with the 2008-09 All-State Orchestra. She was a part of the SEC All-Conference Orchestra in 2008, is a member of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, has attended summer music camps at St. Olaf College, plays oboe at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, was a member of the Minnesota Band Directors Association’s ninth and 10th Grade All-State Honor Band in 2006, is a member of the Woodbury High School Marching Band Color Guard and studies privately with Sara O’Connor.

The all-state program is an ongoing activity of MMEA, a 2,000 member professional organization representing music educators at all levels and in all areas of music. The mission of MMEA is high quality music education for every student.

Tags: education, ensemble, dodd, huffman, rudnickas, state, musicians, whs