All-State Orchestra

Dr. Droste, is shown with Nick Crist of Motley, right, who was selected as a member of the 2016-17 Minnesota All-State Orchestra. The All-State Orchestra held it’s annual summer camp the first week of August, concluding with a concert  Aug. 6 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. This year’s orchestra performed “Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo” by Aaron Copland, Overture to “The School for Scandal” by Samuel Barber, “Deep Summer Music” by Libby Larsen, Overture to “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein and “Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 3” by Howard Hanson. They will perform at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Feb 18, 2017. This year’s orchestra was directed by Dr. Douglas Droste, director of orchestras at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. 

John Koopmann, orchestra teacher at Staples-Motley also served as the brass section coach for the all-state orchestra. This was Koopman’s sixth year as the brass section coach for the orchestra.