Band students across the state have the same goal: make it in the Missouri All-State Band. Only a select few make the cut, and this year that includes one of our own. Donald Rabin (11) made All-State Band for the first time. Not only is it his first year making All-State, Rabin is the only band student from the Mehlville school district to make All-State this year.

Rabin, who plays flute in the Oakville Marching Band and Wind Symphony, started off his music season red hot when he placed first chair in the St. Louis All-Suburban Band. When a student makes All-Suburban that qualifies them to audition for All-State if they wished. Rabin was up against nearly 145 other flute players across the state. The All-State Band took 11 flutes, and Rabin placed eighth.

“I was really excited when I found out,” said Rabin, adding that he found out because he woke up to text messages from friends congratulating him.

In order to prepare for the auditions, Rabin participated in the Oberlin Flute Academy, a week long program at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. He got to work with Alexa Still, a professional flute player that teaches at Oberlin, who gave Rabin tips on his audition repertoire. Rabin also takes lessons from two teacher every month.

“It was a dream of mine since Freshman year,” Rabin commented, “I was really happy that it came true.”

Since Rabin made All-State, he traveled to the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, MO for the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference Jan 22nd-25th. Rabin had multiple rehearsals each day, including some with crazy hours like 10:45 PM-midnight. For their concert, the band performed Shenandoah, American Salute, A Moment for Rosa, and Internal Fire.

“It was an amazing experience,” Rabin concluded, “I learned a lot about being a better musician and person of character.”