Redwood Stars That Made All Star: Results and Feelings

Six Redwood High School students made into California All Star. They share how they feel about making it.

By: Greer Olson

In the coming spring semester of 2026, six of Redwood High School’s musicians will be participating and performing in California’s All State Music Conference among thousands of other talented students in California.

The conference will take place from January 15th to the 19th and will feature ensembles of band, orchestra, and choir performances throughout the days. Within those sections, Redwood has Matthew Garcia and William Schafer representing Redwood band, Nathan Delgado Carranza and Abigail Ray representing Redwood choir, and Julianne Arakaki and Zachary Tomooka representing Redwood orchestra.

Even though the selections have just been announced, these students have been practicing for months, even years. Williams Schafer, ‘27, says that he has auditioned since, “8th grade” and has only been able to get in this year. 

Schafer also says that after practicing nearly every day since May, it feels surreal to be finally selected “means a lot because [he’s] seen the Allstate groups perform” and has always looked up to them. 

Schafer hasn’t been the only person to audition multiple times. Abigail Ray, ‘26, says that after getting in last year and not being able to go, she was scared they wouldn’t accept her again. Ray says that she was, really happy since it’s her senior year.

But for some, this is more than just a goal. Zachary Tomooka, ‘26, explains how he only began playing cello 4 years ago, much later than everyone else. He says that the reason he practices so hard is because he is trying to make a, “career out of cello”.

He adds that this achievement isn’t a goal within his musical career, but a representation of the, “culmination of [his] hard work”.

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