Three Greene County High School seniors are preparing for the Iowa High School Music Association’s All-State Music Festival.

Senior Kaitlin Tjostem is performing in her first all state concert as a soprano in the choir. She describes her initial reaction when she qualified for All-State.

“I saw Greene County (on the qualifier list), I looked over (and) there was my name. I screamed and I ran out from the crowd (of other students) and found Mr. (Dave) Heupel and he said it was really funny seeing me run out, laughing. I dried cried, I wasn’t crying but I was dry crying.”

Senior Mitchell Stevens is also a first-time selection for the band on french horn. He was an alternate last year and he talks about what he’s looking forward to the most from the experience.

“So I’m really looking forward to playing in a really good big band. Because it’s one thing to be there and listening to a really good band and it can give you chills, but it’s totally another thing – a way cooler one – to actually be in it and playing, because not only can you hear the sound you can really feel it too, and you’re adding your own input to the sound as well.”

Senior Jacob Hanson will be making his third trip to All-State as a tenor. Students from across Iowa will rehearse Thursday and Friday, with the performance taking place Saturday at Hilton Coliseum of Iowa State University, and tickets are $23. To hear more from all three seniors, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.