All State & Junior District Festival
by Lily Oh ‘27 and Moon Chen ‘29
For many student musicians, the Massachusetts All-State and Junior District Festivals are the highlights of the year, with intense rehearsals and incredible music alongside talented musicians from across the district and state. This year, several St. Mark’s students earned spots in these prestigious ensembles, representing the school through orchestra, band, and choir performances.
Ella Yu ‘28, Lily Oh ‘27, Moon Chen ‘29, Si Ah Jang ‘27, and Fiji Chen ‘28 participated in different ensembles at the All-State Festival: Orchestra, Concert band, SSAA, and SATB Choir.
For the Orchestra, Lily and Ella performed under conductor Nick Palmer. They played crowd-favorite pieces, including Gustav Holst’s Mars, the Bringer of War, and Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from The Planets, along with the iconic Star Wars Main Theme. Between the intense brass entrances, dramatic rhythms, and instantly recognizable melodies, the program was definitely one of the loudest of the weekend.
Moon Chen ‘29 participated in the All-State Concert Band under conductor Michael J. Coburn. The ensemble performed Deciduous by Viet Cuong, The Pride of the Wolverines by John Philip Sousa, and Percy Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry. When asked about a favorite piece, Moon immediately picked Deciduous, which quickly became a favorite among many performers because of its intensity and unique sound.
Si Ah Jang ‘27 represented St. Mark’s in the SSAA All Women’s Choir conducted by Alysia Lee. Their repertoire included pieces such as Landslide, Water Fountain, To Sit and Dream, Les Papillons, and No Time. Fiji Chen also participated in the SATB Choir under conductor Heather Mitchell, performing Hymn of Axiom and My Soul's Been Anchored by Moses Hogan. From emotional ballads to powerful choral moments, the choirs brought a completely different kind of energy to the festival.
St. Mark’s students also made a strong showing at the Massachusetts Junior District Festival. Justin Yang ‘29 and David Lim ‘29 performed in the Junior District Orchestra, tackling everything from the dramatic Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah to Tchaikovsky’s intense Marche Slave.
For Justin, the most memorable part was not even the music itself. “My conductor for Junior Districts was incredibly helpful and brought enthusiasm to the room,” he said. “He really took the time to help us improve while still making long rehearsals fun.”
Jerry Cui ’29 and Elizabeth Fontes ’29 also represented St. Mark’s in the Junior District Choir, joining singers from across Massachusetts for a weekend filled with rehearsals, performances, and new friendships.
Although the festivals are famous for their competitive auditions and difficult repertoire, students agreed that the best parts often happened between rehearsals: bonding over chaotic sectionals, trying not to fall asleep during breaks, and late-night McDonald’s runs after long days of music-making. Spending entire weekends surrounded by people who care just as deeply about music created an atmosphere that felt both intense and unforgettable.
Again, congratulations to all of the St. Mark’s students who participated this year for representing the school with talent, dedication, and enthusiasm; and also for surviving the rehearsal marathons along the way!
GO LIONS
