The Iowa High School Music Association All-State Festival begins today in Ames and Greene County High School qualified two students who are making return trips.

Senior Noah Von Stein is a two-time qualifier for band on bass clarinet. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio about his confidence level going into his audition.

“I felt more confident this year just because last year I was kind of in the middle of the list of all the bass clarinets and this year I was first out of all the bass clarinets to audition. So I just kind of set the bar for all the other bass clarinets.”

Senior Michael Kennedy is a three-time qualifier and he says this was the first year he made it through the re-call process, which he points out was a unique experience.

“So I was a little bit terrified to go in there, but when I went in there all you can do is sing so you just go for it and do it. It’s nerve racking but there is just so much like want to be in there that that kind of took over for me. Like I wanted to make it my last year.”

The concerts will take place on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum of Iowa State University.