The All-State Music Festival in Ames Nov. 18-20 marked the 75th anniversary of the prestigious event that recognizes and rewards excellence in Iowa high school musicians.
The Diamond Jubilee event included an expanded printed concert program, new compositions commissioned for all three All-State ensembles, and a Friday Young Artists concert featuring former Iowa All-State musicians who are now professional musicians and/or university music instructors.
Included in the concert was Shelby Sievers VanNordstrand, 2000 Jefferson-Scranton graduate. She was a four-time All-Stater on clarinet, but pursued her musical career as a vocalist.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Iowa State University and a master of music in vocal performance at Michigan State University. She is currently associate professor of voice and vocal area coordinator at University of Nebraska in Omaha.
She and her younger sister Ashley Sievers performed at Thomas Jefferson Gardens in 2019.
VanNordstrand talked with her high school choir director Dave Heupel, who is still at Greene County High School, and this year’s All-State participants.
