Popejoy Hall, on The University of New Mexico campus, was aflutter with youngsters on the second weekend in January for the New Mexico Music Educators Association, All-State New Mexico music competitions.

The four-day event included an audition, intensive practicing and was capped off with various concerts showcasing students' hard work. Although all students selected to participate in any one of the eight All-State musical groups auditioned in October 2009, they were required to do another audition at the beginning of the event to ensure they were still ready for All-State.

Participants travel to Albuquerque two days before their scheduled concert. The weekend consisted of four-hour rehearsals, free concerts for the participants and a little free time to meet other musical students from other places.

The All-State orchestras, bands, choirs and a guitar group were filled with students from high schools across New Mexico.

Students and teachers worked hard to make their mark at the musical gathering, and the Jan. 9 concerts gave them a chance to prove it.

"It's really nerve-racking," said Deidre Fudge, a junior at Santa Fe High School, about auditioning. "You work so hard; it's scary to think you might fail."

Fudge made it into the treble choir, and was more than satisfied.

"It was fan-freaking-tastical," Fudge exclaimed. "(All-State is) so different than choir at school, because no one is there who doesn't want to be. We get so much more work done."

Josh Graves, of Santa Fe High School, claimed that the experience was not only fun, but educational.

"It's great to be around so many musical people," he said. Josh was part of the symphonic band.

The hundreds of students who participated in All-State this year encouraged music educators statewide to persevere and continue making music available to all students.

Lucy Ohlsen is a senior at Santa Fe High. You can reach her at limefreak44@cybermesa.com.