By: Nora Warner
Photo: Mr. Warner
Last week, WAHS sent 11 students to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Region IV Band co-hosted by MMI Prep School (Wednesday and Thursday) and Hazleton Area Highschool (Friday) The event brings together top students from Districts 8 and 9 to compete for ranking and collaborate on a concert performance. To earn a spot at the regional level, students first qualified for the district band by submitting recorded auditions and earning spots, then placed at the top of their sections during ranking auditions at the district band festival.
The participating students were (listed as pictured)
Top Row (L to R): Winifred Morrison, Brayden Hoffmann, Tyler Marino, Kristian Nistad
Bottom Row (L to R): Nora Warner, Sara Kovacs, Molly McGinnis, Theodora Whitehouse, Bradley Miehle, Hunter Sasala, Orson Whitehouse
A few of our students placed in the top of their sections! They were Brayden Hoffmann (3rd place, Trumpet 1), Bradley Miehle (2nd place euphonium), Hunter Sasala (2nd place Trombone I), and Nora Warner (1st place oboe II).
Congratulations to Brayden Hoffmann, who placed first in his All-State equalizer audition against all top trumpets from the regions, and he earned a seat in the All-State Wind Ensemble this April!
. After auditions on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday were filled with vigorous rehearsals to prepare a challenging program under the direction of Dr. Peter Boonshaft. Dr. Boonshaft is a professor emeritus at Hofstra University and now works as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator around the world. Dr. Boonshaft is considered one of the greatest modern wind band conductors due to his many accomplishments. He brought his vast experience to the rehearsals, sharing many stories, and demonstrating a high level of musicality and expertise throughout the festival.
On Friday evening, the group performed their concert at Hazelton Area High School. They performed:
Salute to PMEA by A.D. Davenport
Landscapes by Rossano Galante
Rest (for concert band) by Frank Tichelli
Khan by Julie Giroux
Faith by Matt Conway
British Eighth March by Zo Elliot
Hymn to the Infinite Sky by Shatoshi Yagisawa
These events not only provide an opportunity for individual accomplishment but also the opportunity to connect with others and learn to work together to create something greater than an individual. Congratulations to all the students on their accomplishments at this festival and for their continued commitment to growing as musicians.
