Nine Whitefish High School students have been selected to participate in the Montana High School Association All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra Festival.

Students are Hunter Cripe, Maya Gordon, Aaron Torgerson, Brittany Barnes, Maybelline Green, Maddy Dugdale, Annika Gordon and Becca Holdhusen.

Students tried out for the spots last spring. In October they will travel to Bozeman to participate in the festival. The musical groups are made up of freshman through seniors.

Holdhusen, a senior, has been selected for the fourth year in a row. After her first violin was shipped to her in the mail, at age 5 she began private lessons. She continues today, along with dabbling in a few other instruments including the guitar and cello.

“It’s a very diverse instrument that works for lots of styles of music,” she said. “And it’s portable.”

Holdhusen said her favorite type is fiddle music, and she often plays for contra dance events, fiddle camps and jam sessions.

“It’s a lot less rigid and leaves more room for improvisation and creativity than classical music,” she said.

Prior to the festival, musicians practice the piece they will play at the festival and once there rehearse together before holding a concert.

“It’s a really great experience being around other musicians,” she said.