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Ruby Mykkanen and Maxx Richards, both juniors at Albert Lea High School, have been chosen for the 2024-25 All-State Concert Band on clarinet and trumpet, respectively. Each year, hundreds of students across the state audition for spots in the All-State Band, Choir and Orchestra. This will be Mykkanen’s second consecutive year as part of the ensemble.

The All-State students receive their music in early summer and prepare individually for a camp, which will be held July 30-Aug. 3 at Concordia College in Moorhead. The band will be conducted by Dr. Heidi Johanna Miller from Gustavus Adolphus College. Following a concert on Aug. 3, the students will assemble again in February 2025 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis to present their programs for the Minnesota Music Educators Mid-Winter Conference.

Albert Lea sophomore Avery Mauer was selected for the 2024 Minnesota Band Directors Association 9-10 State Honor Band on French horn. The event, which gives students in grades 6-10 a state level honor band experience at a younger age, was held April 13-14 at Edina High School. Mauer was also a member of the 6-8 state honor band as an eighth grader. The students had a full day of rehearsals on Saturday and performed a concert on Sunday afternoon. The 9-10 band was under the direction of Dr. Matthew Arau from Lawrence University.

Mauer, Mykkanen and Richards are all students of ALHS Band Director Suzanne Mauer. Richards is also a trumpet student of Tim Davis of Austin, and Mauer is a horn student of Jenny Steele of Austin.