The 98th annual Vermont All State Music Festival, held May 7 through 10 at Essex High School, hit all the right notes. More than 400 students from across the state attended and performed with the orchestra, jazz ensemble, concert band, chorus, a cappella ensemble and modern band. The last two groups, added in 2024, attract musicians interested in contemporary sounds, hence their popularity: About 100 students auditioned for the modern band’s 15 spots.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger met the young members of Punch, the All State Modern Band, and filmed them at rehearsal. Then she followed them to nearby Summit Street School to watch them perform for an enthusiastic crowd of grade school students. The next night, the teenage performers brought down the house at Essex High as the packed audience cheered, danced and rocked out.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.

How did you hear about this band?

Brian Boyes from Harwood Union Middle & High School emailed me about the modern band. I met him back in 2018 when I made a video about SoundCheck, a social justice band composed of students from different Vermont high schools. Sounds a bit like the All State Modern Band, right? In some ways, SoundCheck paved the way for the modern band.

What was the vibe of the band?

Punch seemed like a tight-knit group of musicians who had been performing together for years. In reality, the band met on Wednesday afternoon and performed on Thursday afternoon and Friday night. Its members chose the music and rehearsed independently ahead of time. When they showed up at Essex High, they were ready to jam.

How did the young audience react to them?

At the elementary school, the students sat quietly for the first song. Then a few kids got up to start dancing, and the room erupted. Teachers and kids alike were jumping up and down, doing a conga line, and smiling from ear to ear. The energy in the room was infectious, and the band kept the mood upbeat.

On a sadder note, the Summit Street School is closing due to budget cuts, and its students will be moved to a nearby school. This was quite a memorable send-off.

How was the Friday night show?

Off the hook. I heard from a few students about last year’s high-octane show, but nothing prepared me for the energy level of the crowd. Students rushed the area below the stage, and the auditorium was packed with bopping, screaming, exuberant youths. The band was on fire, and it felt like being at a professional gig.

A lot of performing arts funding is up in the air right now.

Yes, despite the fact that programs like these are essential for young learners. The All State Music Festival is fortunate right now in that it doesn’t rely on federal funding that could be revoked. As I walked through the high school, it was inspiring to catch snippets of the orchestra in the library, the concert band in the gym and the chorus in the auditorium. These events foster community and independent learning skills, and they connect students with professional musicians from across the country.