Tallgrass String Festival
& All-State Prep Day!

tallgrass string festival and all state prep day title on a purple circle in front of a field of tallgrass.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

A fun event for all high school string musicians! Participants will have the opportunity to work with nationally acclaimed musicians, as well as share music with peers from across the region! Kansas All-State Orchestra preparatory sessions will be provided along with a number of alternate session options exploring a variety of musical and collegiate experiences. Bring a few students or an entire program - all high school string musicians welcome!

Registration will open August 15.

Registration for the Tallgrass String Festival is $10 per student and open to all high school string musicians. Make sure to register before September 16, 2025. (Each student should choose two different interest sessions before registering - see below for options.)

Tallgrass Registration

Music

Student musicians will participate in one of two orchestras during the afternoon of the Festival. Repertoire for these two ensembles will include:

Purple Pride Orchestra: Waltz of the Wicked (Mosier) & And So It Goes (Joel/Moore)

Wildcats Orchestra: American Reel (Mosier) & Snowberry (Nishimura)

Practice parts for these pieces will be made available to participants once they have registered for the festival. Click on the link below to access All-State excerpts that have been prepared with fingerings and bowings from the clinicians.

All-State Excerpts

Festival Schedule (Draft)a large concert hall stage completely filled with musicians seatted in chairs with their instruments.

8:30-9:00 - Registration - K-State Student Union
9:00 - Welcome
9:30 - Interest Session 1 (Choose one from the list below.)
10:30 - Break
10:45 - Interest Session 2 (Choose another from the list below.)
11:45 - Move Instruments to Mass Orchestra Rehearsal Location(s)
12:00 - Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 - Mass Orchestra Experience (McCain Auditorium & K-State Union Ballroom)
* Conducted by Kirt Mosier & Dr. Rachel Dirks
2:45 - Make Your Way to McCain Auditorium
3:00 - KSUSO Farewell Performance - McCain Auditorium
3:30 - Celebrate the Day on the Anderson Lawn!
4:00 - Come back soon!

Interest Session Options

  • Kansas All-State Excerpt & Scale Preparatory Sessions
    • Dr. Madeleine Jansen, Violin
    • Dr. Blair Williams, Viola
    • Dr. Syneva Colle, Cello
    • Benjamin Beggs, Bass
  • The Initial Steps to Composition with Kirt Mosier
  • How to Mentally Prepare (for anything) with Kirt Mosier
  • Conducting 101 with Dr. Rachel Dirks
  • Bluegrass Fiddling with Russell Clark
  • Music in College - All Majors Welcome! with KSUSO Student Leaders
  • Campus Tours with KSUSO Student Leaders

Parking

Please check the K-State Parking Services website for details regarding on-campus parking for the day. https://www.k-state.edu/parking/

Meet the Faculty

A man in a black suit holding a baton in front of a black background.
Kirt Mosier, Guest Clinician
Composer & Conductor

A woman in a black suit jacket with white decorative design in front of an unfocused outdoor background.

 

 

 

 





Dr. Rachel Dirks
Director of Orchestral Studies
Kansas State University

a women in a white top holds a violin in front of an unfocused outdoor background

Dr. Madeleine Jansen
Asst. Prof. of Violin & Viola
Kansas State University

A woman in a grey blazer and jeans sits backlit by a window with vertical panes.

Dr. Blair Williams
Viola
American String Teachers Association

A woman in a black suite coat stands with her harms crossed in front of a black background.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Dr. Syneva Colle
Teaching Asst. Prof. of Cello
Kansas State University

BB

Benjamin Beggs
Instructor of Bass
Kansas State University

RC

Russell Clark
Instructor of Music
Kansas State University