• The last time SVHS sent students to All-State Jazz was 2017.
Star Valley High School Jazz Band pianist, Maren Arbizu, and trumpeter, Ryan Gibbons, have been selected for the 2024 Wyoming All-State Jazz Band. Though SVHS sends dozens of band, choir and orchestra students each year to the All-State Festival, it’s rare to have students selected for the All-State Jazz Band.
“I wondered if I should even audition,” said Arbizu, in an interview with SVI Media. “I didn’t think I would get in, but I decided to try, and I was so surprised! You just never know what can happen!”
The last time SVHS sent students to All-State Jazz Band was 2017. “Being selected for this group is very special,” shared Kurt Sand, Band Director at SVHS. “Maren is one of two pianists selected from the entire state. Ryan is one of just 10 trumpets selected. Maren is a member of All-State Jazz Band 1 and Ryan is a member of All-State Jazz Band 2. The competition is pretty stiff, and available positions are very limited. We are very excited for Maren and Ryan!”
Jonathan Buehler has been honored with an All-State Choir selection each year of his high school experience, which, according to SVHS Choir Director, Kari Allred, “is a very difficult thing to do and not many receive that honor.”
A change to All-State policy this year is allowing students to audition for more than one All-State ensemble. Students are now invited to audition for choir, band and orchestra all in the same year.
Three SVHS students, Anna Haderlie, Daphne Olsen and Charlotte Crook, auditioned for choir and orchestra, and all three received All-State selections to both ensembles. “That’s amazing and shows what incredible musicians they truly are,” shared Allred. “Because both ensembles rehearse and perform at the same time, these students had to choose which ensemble they would accept for the All-State selection and perform with, but what an honor for those girls.”
Other students selected from SVHS to participate in an All-State ensemble include Archer Dugan, who will play percussion in the All-State Band.
The SVHS choir program has 24 students total selected for All-State, and the SVHS orchestra program has 16 students selected.
Orchestra All-State qualifiers from SVHS include: Daphne Olsen, Maren Arbizu, Sabrina Olsen, Shay Frazier, Thomas Randall, Maggie Daniel, Hunter Randall, Ella Cranney, Zoey Scherbel, Paxton Probst, Landon Walker, Brigham Hahn, Kaelle Opitz, Ethan Eyre, Charlotte Crook and Ashton Aitken.
Choir All-State qualifiers from SVHS include: Maya Allred, Ammon Baird, Ainsley Bowman, Adam Bringhurst, Grant Buchanan, Jase Burton, McKadie Draney, William Egbert, Brennan Fullmer, Brock Haderlie, Hallie Hokanson, Alison Hoopes, Bria Jack, Dylan Kallgren, Jacob Knighton, Ellie McCombie, Cody Nelson, Anson Robinson, Michelle Stucki, William Walker and Bridger Wolfley.
