All-State Eligibility and Policies

All-State Eligibility Policy

Approved by MMEA Board of Directors September 12, 2015. This policy is applicable from the time of audition through the following February, if selected.

A student must follow all policies below to be eligible for All-State participation.

Member in Good Standing of the Corresponding Ensemble from Audition through February
All-State exists to support secondary school music ensembles, MMEA members, and members’ students. Because of this, MMEA requires a student to be a member in good standing of the secondary school’s corresponding ensemble from the time of the audition through the following February performance to be eligible. Statements below clarify and further define participation in the corresponding ensemble. All statements below apply equally.

  1. Corresponding ensemble means choir for vocal auditions, band for winds/brass/percussion auditions, jazz band for jazz auditions, and orchestra for string auditions. Secondary schools may set specific corresponding ensemble requirements.
  2. If a student resides within a secondary school’s attendance boundary, and that school provides the corresponding ensemble, and the student chooses to enroll in a school that does not include the corresponding ensemble, the student is not eligible for All-State participation.
  3. If a student resides within a secondary school’s attendance boundary, and that school does not provide the corresponding ensemble, the student is encouraged to support the school music program through membership in another ensemble. That ensemble director may sponsor the student’s audition.
  4. A PSEO student is eligible for All-State if the student is a member in good standing of the corresponding ensemble at the student’s secondary school.
  5. A homeschooled student or a student enrolled at an on-line secondary school is eligible for All-State if the student is a member in good standing of the corresponding ensemble at a secondary school via shared-time enrollment. See #2 and #3 above.
  6. If a student is sponsored by a private teacher, the MMEA office will verify secondary school ensemble membership directly with the ensemble’s director. Verification must be received by MMEA prior to April 10th.
  7. A sponsoring teacher who is an MMEA member may make an eligibility exception request on behalf of a student no later than the audition deadline.  The Executive Committee will review the request, and communicate eligibility review decisions to the sponsoring teacher/MMEA member as soon as they can. The decisions of the MMEA Executive Committee are final.
  8. For harp players only, most secondary school music ensembles do not regularly program works that include harp. Harp players are encouraged to support the school music program through membership in another ensemble or another means as determined by the school’s music directors.

Sponsoring teachers may submit an eligibility exception request form for students auditioning for All-State.

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.

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 NAfME 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.

All-State Digital Ethics Policy

(Revised 10.6.21)

Several revisions are being made to the Digital Ethics Policy to ensure equity for all students, regardless of their school’s learning plan.

  1. Sound files may not be edited or enhanced in any way.
  2. The sponsoring teacher does not need to be present in the room while the student is recording.
  3. Each audition element must be recorded in a separate, single continuous take. Audition elements are the numbered items listed below for each audition type (for example, etude, solo and so on).
  4. If the recording is determined to have been altered, the student will not be eligible for All-State participation. The MMEA Executive Committee’s decision will be final.
  5. ADDITION: The teacher does not need to be present in the room, but upon submission of audition recordings, will certify that the recording is of their student and that the Digital Ethics Policy was discussed with the student prior to recording the audition.

All-State Selection Policy

This policy is applicable during the selection of students from All-State membership.

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.

Selection Process for Ensembles

The result of the student’s audition as reflected in judge scores is the primary selection criteria. Other information that may be used include student’s grade, school (preference for A over AA schools) and judge comments. To spread the benefits of All-State among music programs, the maximum number of vocal participants from any one school is 6, winds brass and percussion students (across both bands and the orchestra) is 9, and jazz students is 3.

  • Occasionally, some exceptions are made in the All-State selection numbers. As ensemble sizes have increased, we have had to make exceptions for students in lower audition groupings, such as the Alto 2, Tenor 1, and Bass 2 voice parts. Exceptions are made to avoid cutting extremely high scoring students from other voice parts in order to achieve vocal balance across the ensembles. Please trust that these exceptions are very difficult decisions and are not taken lightly. 
  • Interested in what All-State Selection numbers have looked like in past years? Check out the Audition Statistics Landing Page.
    • Since 2015, MMEA has compiled audition statistics for All-State. Every year, we update the document with the total number of students that were selected for an All-State ensemble, the number of alternates that were selected, and the total number of auditions for the year. The statistics are divided by category, then by instrument/voice part. New this year, in addition to overall statistics, is statistics by region.

All-State Student Rules and Regulations

Approved April 22, 2019. This policy is applicable from the time of audition through the following February, if selected. 

Students participating in All-State are expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner. Any student failing to do so will face disciplinary action which may include loss of membership in the group.

All expectations apply to both summer and February All-State unless specifically stated otherwise.

Student Expectations

  1. Students must prepare assigned literature and fully participate in rehearsals, regardless of part assigned.
  2. Students must attend and be on time for all rehearsals, sectionals, and camp activities. Students who are tardy or miss a rehearsal, sectional, or camp activity must report to their section coach or the MMEA Vice-President.
  3. Students must treat each other and All-State and campus staff with respect. This expectation applies to any person or persons regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, national origin, immigrant status, disability, public assistance status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, and military family status. Expectations apply equally in person, in groups, and online. Cyber-bullying is specifically prohibited.
    Characteristics not specifically mentioned are governed by the intent of this expectation.
  4. During All-State activities, students shall not consume, possess, buy or sell alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, or products used to deliver nicotine or other substance (such as vaping or e-cigarettes). The use or possession of any product with the intent to create similar effects is also prohibited. Prescribed medications used by the student to which they are prescribed, in the manner in which they are prescribed, are not covered under this policy
  5. Under MSHSL Bylaw 205, secondary schools are required to create and apply local policies related to Fine Arts Activities and chemical use. Schools may apply Fine Arts policies to local activities not sponsored by the League, such as honors ensemble participation. Any penalties applied by the school under their local policy will be recognized by MMEA.
  6. Students may not share any medication – prescription, over the counter, or other – with any other student.
  7. Students and parents or guardians must provide registration information requested and make timely payments.
  8. Students who drive to camp must turn car keys in at registration, and may not drive during camp. Car keys will be returned at check out.
  9. [Instrumental groups only] Students must return music or destroy electronic copies at the end of All-State February. Electronic or physical copies may not be shared with another person.
  10. Students who get hurt or don’t feel well should inform their dorm/evening counselor, section coach and/or the MMEA Vice President immediately.
  11. Students who find it necessary to withdraw from All-State must notify the MMEA office in writing no later than June 30th prior to camp. A service charge will be applied to the refund. Refunds after June 30th will be pro-rated and considered on an individual basis.

Student Attendance Policy

  1. Students must commit to All-State Camp and February rehearsals and performance.
  2. Students must attend all rehearsals, performances, and activities.
  3. For February All-State only, students involved in State Tournaments conflicting with rehearsal may miss a portion of rehearsals. The student must report the conflict to MMEA. Section, sub-section and regional games or competitions are not state-level activities.

Camp Housing Expectations:

  1. All students are housed in dormitories on campus. Students must sleep in the room to which they were assigned.
  2. All students must follow camp rules as to room curfew and lights out. Students found outside of their assigned room after lights out may be sent home.
  3. Outside of move-in and move-out time, the only individuals that may be present in a dorm room are those students assigned to the room, MMEA section coaches, Vice Presidents, and college dorm counselors. Students may visit other campers in common areas in the dorm and on campus.
  4. Students will receive a room key or access card at check in. Students must turn in keys and/or access cards at checkout time. Students will be invoiced for lost keys by MMEA
  5. Students are responsible for keeping their room neat and orderly. Students are responsible for the cost of any damages.
  6. Students are responsible for packing and removing all belongings at the end of camp.
  7. Students and families are responsible for housing during the February events.

Violations of any of the above rules will be brought to the attention of MMEA leadership. Where the situation warrants, a report of the violation will be sent to parents and school directors. Those who violate any of the preceding rules may be sent home and would no longer be eligible to participate in future All-State activities. Any other actions, including those not specifically cited, which are detrimental to the camp experience may result in expulsion from All-State. In all cases, the final decision rests with MMEA officials. MMEA retains the sole right to interpret these rules and regulations.