MMEA All-State Program
Eligibility Policies & FAQ's

An overview of the All-State eligibility policy is included in selection letters. It can be downloaded here. Full eligibility policies are on this page.

MMEA's All-State Eligibility Policy

All-State is a program to develop the finest musicians and leaders among Minnesota's most accomplished high school students. Eligibility rules for All-State participation are as follows.

Enrolled in a music ensemble in their high school from audition to following February
A student participating in an All-State music ensemble must be enrolled in the corresponding musical group in their high school, if one exists. They must be enrolled in and a member in good standing from the time of the audition through the following February rehearsals and performance to be eligible for participation in the All-State ensembles.

If a student's high school does not have a corresponding ensemble, the student must describe his/her ensemble experience in alternative ensembles in the school or in corresponding ensembles in prior schools or outside of high school on the application form. Ensemble experience is important to a student's success in the All-State program. Ensemble experience information may be used in making selection decisions on All-State Draft Day.

Grade at time of audition
Wind, brass, percussion, and choral auditions are limited to students who are sophomores or juniors at the time of the audition. String auditions are limited to students who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of the audition.

Maximum years of participation
Band, jazz or choral students may participate in an All-State group for two years. String students may participate for three years.

Rotation between ensembles
If a student was a member of the All-State Mixed Chorus one year and selected for a second year, the student would be placed in either the Women's Chorus or Men's Chorus the second year. If a wind, brass or percussion player was a member of the All-State Concert Band one year and selected for a second year, the student would be placed in the Symphonic Band or Orchestra. The reverse situations would also be true.

Sponsoring teacher is a member of MMEA
All-State is sponsored by MMEA as a service to its members and their students. Participation is limited to those students whose sponsoring teacher is a current member in good standing of MMEA and MENC at the time of the audition and continues to be a member during the rehearsal and performance period. The sponsoring music educator must be currently teaching the student, and must continue as a music educator for that student through the following February. Examples of sponsoring music educators are school ensemble directors, studio teachers/instructors for private lessons, and individuals conducting a community youth ensemble.

Maximum number of auditions per sponsoring teacher
For any sponsoring teacher in each audition category, the maximum number of students who can audition is: 15 string students, 15 vocal students, 19 wind/brass/percussion students, and 15 jazz ensemble students. Students may audition on more than one instrument or for more than one group; a separate fee and application form is required for each audition.

Examples and Frequently Asked Questions

I have a student in the All-State Concert Band who as exercised a post secondary option and is not longer enrolled in any high school performing group. Is the student still eligible for All-State?

No. Many students, however, who choose PSEO are able to stay enrolled in their high school band, orchestra, or choir. Unless a student is a member in good standing in the corresponding high school ensemble, he/she is not eligible for All-State.

I have a student who is thinking about going post secondary in the fall. She's been selected to participate in All-State, but isn't sure if her post secondary schedule will allow her to remain enrolled in her school choir. Should she attend the summer camp anyway, even though she may be ineligible to participate in the February portion of All-State?

That's a tricky one, but the answer really depends on the student. If she is certain that she's going post-secondary, and knows that she can't stay enrolled in her high school performing group, then she is ineligible. If she thinks that she can work the schedule out, then she would remain eligible. We really want to avoid students becoming ineligible between the summer camp and the February performances, since no alternate can rightfully take her place after the summer camp is complete. When making this decision we urge the teacher and student to consider the many students who would love the opportunity to take her spot in All-State, and who would be able to fully participate in both portions of All-State.

What does corresponding music ensemble mean?

For vocal auditions, the student must be enrolled in choir, if a choir exists at the school. For wind, brass, and percussion auditions, the student must be enrolled in band, if a band exists at the school. For string auditions, the student must be enrolled in orchestra, if an orchestra exists at the school.

For jazz auditions, wind, brass, drum-set, and auxiliary percussion students must be enrolled in the band, if a band exists at the school. For jazz auditions on bass, electric guitar, and piano, the student must be enrolled in one of the ensembles at the high school, as appropriate to their instrument and the school's offerings.

At my high school, we have alternative ensembles, but no traditional band, choir, or orchestra. Can I still audition?

Ensemble experience in a setting similar to All-State is important for your success in the program. You can audition for All-State, but you must provide information on your application about your ensemble experience in your current music program, as well as any previous experience you may have. Your audition results, along with your ensemble experience, will be considered when making selections for MMEA All-State.

The music classes at my high school conflict with some advanced placement courses I need to take. Can I perform with my community choir, band, or orchestra instead of my high school ensemble?

MMEA requires that students be enrolled in the corresponding music ensemble at their school. We understand that scheduling decisions can be difficult in any school setting, but students are required to make a commitment to their school ensemble and to their peers in the ensemble, by continuing enrollment from the time of the audition through the following February.

Why do the limits exist for participation in MMEA All-State?

Students and their sponsoring music educators both report the energizing effect that All-State participation has on the individual student as well as the student colleagues in the ensemble in which the All-State student participates. MMEA seeks to extend the indirect benefits of All-State participation to schools and ensembles across the state.

What if one of my students selected for All-State needs to miss a rehearsal during camp?

Unless the absence is an emergency, students are not allowed to leave camp or miss rehearsal. This includes absences for weddings, sport events, vacations, other camps and competitions. If students leave camp without permission, they will not be allowed to return to camp. Students who have an irreconcilable conflict during the camp dates will need to choose one activity or the other.

Under what circumstances are students allowed to miss any portion of the February All-State rehearsals?

MMEA is very strict in its interpretation of our eligibility and attendance policies. With over 575 students involved in the seven All-State groups, it is necessary to follow these policies as much as possible in order to maintain the highest levels of quality in All-State. Out of fairness to the hundreds of students who make the All-State commitment and carry it through, as well as the hundreds who were not selected for participation, we make few exceptions to our attendance policy.

One of the situations, however, in which MMEA will be flexible is when an All-State student is also scheduled to participate in another state- or national-level activity. The State Nordic Ski competition is a good example of such an activity, as is the State One Act Play. For a musician, All-State is comparable to the state tournament for an athlete. Students involved in state-level activities may be allowed to miss a portion of the Friday afternoon or evening rehearsal. Section, sub-section and regional games or competitions are not state-level events and are not considered as exceptions under this policy.

When students accept membership in one of the All-State ensembles in the Spring, we ask that the student make a commitment at that time to participate fully the following February.

More about All-State
About All-State
Who is Eligible to Participate? (current page)
Auditions - Components, Scheduling, and Forms
How Students are Selected for the All-State Ensembles
Now You've Been Selected - What is the All-State Commitment?
History of All-State
Current Information - Letters and Links