As an Iowa high school choir director for nearly three decades, I’ve trusted the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) to uphold fairness and integrity in its adjudication processes. This fall I learned that trust was misplaced. The decision to disqualify Kennedy High School senior Remi Wilcox as principal harpist for the All-State Orchestra exposes a failure of leadership that cannot be ignored. The IHSMA’s Executive Director, Thad Driskell, with the backing of the IHSMA Executive Committee, disqualified Remi for violating a nonexistent rule and disregarding the professional judgment of their chosen adjudicator. This incident casts doubt on the integrity of IHSMA events—past, present, and future.
All-State auditions provide no feedback to students beyond their acceptance or rejection. Students and directors cannot see judges’ scores or comments, leaving no way to hold the process accountable. Driskell’s decision to disqualify Remi reveals an even deeper issue: what the judge decides doesn’t matter. Driskell overruled the adjudicator’s results, enforcing an unwritten “rule” requiring the use of a concert grand harp. Driskell only learned that his preferred harp wasn’t used because the judge offered to lend her own harp for Remi’s use at the All-State festival. Driskell’s actions demonstrate a troubling willingness to alter outcomes behind closed doors.
Remi’s audition was exemplary. They played with clean technique and accurate interpretation, earning selection as principal harpist by professional harpist and adjudicator Acacia Scott. The adjustments Remi made to their performance were standard adaptations recommended by their teacher and widely used by professionals. Yet Driskell and Interim All-State Orchestra Chair, Ted Hallberg, decided Remi’s use of a smaller harp—one their family and school could afford—was grounds for disqualification.
Would they disqualify students who audition on upright pianos instead of concert grands? On flutes without a B foot? Or on a 4-octave marimba because their school can’t afford a 5-octave one? How about an amazing soprano for whom that high Eb is just out of her range? Their decision punished a student for circumstances beyond their control, directly violating IHSMA’s bylaws, which provide no mechanism for an event judge’s decision to be overturned.
All singers and almost all instrumentalists are judged live by a hired adjudicator. These auditions can’t be “reviewed” because they aren’t recorded. Singling out Remi’s audition for “review” because harp happens to be the only instrumental auditions submitted by video was capricious and inequitable, applying a standard to Remi that was not applied to any of the thousands of other auditioning students.
The most damning revelation, however, was Hallberg’s dismissive comment after removing Remi’s name from the list. When asked how Remi might feel upon learning of the decision, he reportedly said, “It’s not a disappointment for Remi because [they’ll] never know.” This cavalier attitude demonstrates an alarming disregard for transparency, student well-being, and fairness. Leadership who feels comfortable operating like this cannot be trusted to oversee an organization governing Iowa’s high school students. One cannot help but wonder how many times things like this have happened over the years because students and their directors “will never know.”
The All-State Festival is over, and there is no remedy for Remi. However, the IHSMA Executive Committee must take immediate action to prevent failing students in this manner ever again. Rules must be revised for clarity, processes must become transparent, and equitable treatment of students must be prioritized. Most importantly, leadership must be replaced with individuals who solve problems through the lens of “what is best for students.” Anything less destroys the credibility necessary for Iowa’s high school musicians to trust any IHSMA event results going forward.
Storm Ziegler
Music Department Chair
Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School
