Six Elkhart County music groups will perform today, May 5, in the Indiana State School Music Association’s 28th annual State Concert Finals in Indianapolis.

Goshen High School has three groups competing, with its orchestra, mixed choir and concert band qualifying for the state contests. Elkhart Central’s orchestra, Concord’s band and Fairfield’s choir are also competing today.

“It’s always really exciting for us and it’s always really exciting for our kids,” said Marcia Yost, chair of the Goshen High School music department. She noted that it’s an especially long day for those kids involved in all three of Goshen’s competing groups.

Groups made it to the finals by placing at the top of qualifying contests last Saturday. Only the top 16 bands, 16 mixed choirs and eight orchestras were accepted into this year’s state finals competitions, according to ISSMA.

This is the fifth consecutive year Central’s orchestra will compete at state. This is the third year for Fairfield’s choir to compete at the state finals.

Top concert bands will be performing at the Lawrence Central High School auditorium. The contest begins at 8:45 a.m. Concord will perform at 11:15 a.m. with Goshen performing at 6:45 p.m. Awards are at 7:40 p.m.

The top high school orchestras and top mixed concert choirs in the state will compete at the Pike Performing Arts Center. The orchestra contest begins at 8:45 a.m. with Goshen performing at 9:55 a.m. and Elkhart Central performing at 1 p.m. Awards will be at 1:45 p.m. The mixed concert choir contest starts at 2 p.m., with Goshen performing at 2:18 p.m. and Fairfield performing at 3:40 p.m. Awards are set for 7:26 p.m.

The ISSMA state finals for treble/men’s choirs are also at the Pike center Friday night, though no local choirs are competing.

State champion band, orchestra, treble/men’s choir and mixed choir will each earn a $1,000 scholarship for one of its students.