As a result of the recent riots in Baltimore, the Maryland State Music Festival has been cancelled without a chance of rescheduling. Walter Johnson’s own Madrigals, Advanced Choir, and Symphonic Orchestra were planning on attending, in what was to be many senior students’ last chance to attend a state music competition. All of the state performances were supposed to occur throughout the week of April 27-May 1.

Both WJ Madrigals and Advanced Choir have made it to the state competition the last six years in a row, while Symphonic Orchestra made it to state the last eight years in a row. Wind Ensemble made it four times, but not consecutively. However, with the cancellation of the event, the three groups who made it to States this year – Madrigals, Advanced Choir, and Symphonic – are unable to carry on their consecutive legacies.

“It was really disappointing to find out it was cancelled because as a group we had really improved since our last performance,” said WJ senior and Madrigals member Meaghan McCann. “Personally I was disappointed because it was going to be my last states performance ever because I’m a senior and I had worked my way up to that choir since I was a freshman.”

According to Kelly Butler, the choral music director at WJ, the first three days of the festival always consist of band and orchestra ensembles, while the last two days are always for choir groups. Monday’s ensembles were able to attend State, since the rioting did not begin until after Freddie Gray’s funeral that morning. However, when things became more violent on Monday afternoon, they canceled all of the band and orchestra groups through Wednesday.

“They originally said they would try to find another venue for the choral groups on Thursday-Friday, but on Tuesday evening they announced that they could not find another location, so all of the choral performances were canceled as well,” Butler explained.

She believes that the safety of the students and staff visiting Baltimore was the primary concern surrounding the cancellation of the event.

“I [think] that [the cancellation] was directly related to the Baltimore riots because they have made the entire city completely unsafe and I’m pretty sure all Montgomery county schools were banned from going there for that time because of how unpredictable and dangerous it was,” McCann added.

According to Butler, seniors will have a chance to perform the same pieces they would have at states at the upcoming spring concerts at WJ, but they will definitely miss out on the experience of attending the state festival.

“State festival will not be rescheduled, so the seniors are out of luck. Underclassmen will have to earn the scores to attend state again next year. They were all disappointed – seniors and underclassmen,”Butler said. “Attending state is a great experience and they had worked really hard.”

With the year dwindling down to an end, the Music Department had to scramble last minute to get a recording of their state repertoire for the CD’s they give out at the end of the year, so they had a recording session on Wednesday, April 29. Although it doesn’t serve as a substitute for states, some feel that at least students will get a recording of their hard work.

“All three [groups invited to states] were affected equally. All three earned the high scores in order to attend the festival; all three put in the extra work perfecting their music. I would say it affects the seniors [in the groups] the most because they will never have another opportunity,” Butler said.

Other than that, the cancellation just led to business as usual, with the various groups continuing to prepare for their end-of-the-year performances. The orchestras got donuts and the choir had an ice cream party, but then it was back to work again.