Junior High All-State Orchestra

January 16-19, 2025, Sacramento, CA

CODA Junior High School All-State String Orchestra, Dr. Tammy Yi, Conductor
To Those Who Made Us by Mia Ruhman
Take the L.A. Train by Charley Harrison (CODA Composer Consortium 2025)
Pizzicato by Vivian Fung
Testament (from Vishwas) by Reena Esmail
Habari Gani by Quenton Blache

CODA Junior High School All-State Concert Orchestra, Dr. Rachel Dirks, Conductor
Concerto Grosso in G, Op. 6, No. 1 by George Frideric Handel, arr. by McCashin
Snowberry by Yukiko Nishimura
Asturias by Isaac Albeniz, arr. by Chin
Incantations by Richard Meyer

CODA JHS All-State String Orchestra 2025
Habari Gani by Quenton Blache (b. 2001)
Quenton Xavier Blache is a dynamic cellist and composer based in Los Angeles and a recent graduate of USC Thornton School of Music’s master’s program in screen scoring. With a bachelor’s in cello performance and composition and a minor in Chinese, Quenton’s career is already distinguished by performances at Carnegie Hall and internationally with groups like Sphinx Virtuosi and National Youth Orchestra USA. In February 2022, he performed the Dvořák Concerto with the Peninsula Symphony, and in October 2023, performed Bloch’s Schelomo with the Thornton Symphony after winning the USC Strings Concerto Competition.
Blache’s “Habari Gani” is named after the Swahili greeting exchanged during the celebration of Kwanzaa. The piece recently had its New York  premiere at Carnegie Hall in 2023 with the Sphinx Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. 

Listen to Habari Gani HERE

CODA Composition Consortium 2025, featuring composer Charley Harrison
The 2025 CODA JHS All-State String Orchestra will also be premiering a commissioned piece by Los Angeles composer and Jazz musician Charley Harrison. For its inaugural commission, CODA is proud to partner with Charley Harrison—composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and guitarist—who has directed the UCLA Jazz Orchestra since 2004 and became the first Conductor and Artistic Director of the Hollywood Jazz Orchestra in 2023.

Harrison’s work has been performed by jazz legends such as Kenny Burrell, Clark Terry, Marcus Miller, and The Count Basie Orchestra. His acclaimed 2006 album, Keeping My Composure, spent 13 weeks on the JazzWeek radio charts. With experience in composing for youth orchestras and a background in film and commercial music, Harrison brings a versatile approach to this project. Learn more and become a member of the consortium here: CODA Composer Consortium!

CODA All-State JHS Concert Orchestra 2025
Snowberry by Yukiko Nishimura (b. 1967)
Yukiko Nishimura is a distinguished composer and pianist from Kyoto, Japan. She is known for her captivating contributions to contemporary classical music. A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, she furthered her studies under esteemed mentors, including Dr. Alfred Reed at the University of Miami and Dr. Richard Danielpour at Manhattan School of Music. Her career highlights include performances of her original works in Japan since 1996, a solo piano recital at New York Public Library’s Donnell Library Center, and composing music for silent films such as Edison’s 1910 Frankenstein and Kenji Mizoguchi’s The Water Magician.
Nishimura has composed an extensive range of music for piano, marimba, percussion, chamber ensembles, and full orchestras, earning multiple nominations at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Her innovative spirit has also led her to collaborate on theatrical and traditional Noh productions. Now based in Los Angeles, she continues her work as a composer, performer, and arranger, enriching the world of music with her unique artistry.

Listen to Snowberry HERE

Student Information Form (for students to submit to their director)

• String Bass players have the opportunity to be considered for acceptance into one of the CBDA All-State Bands.  Bass players must indicate on their application, which ensembles they wish to audition for.

Directors, please read the following instructions for setting up your Director’s account and adding student auditions.
Director Instructions for CODA All-State Orchestra Audition Submission

Schools with small or growing music programs may qualify for a School Fee Waiver. Information can be found at the bottom of our FAQs page.