Beaver Area High School’s music department is often noted for their wonderful musicians—and once again these students have displayed exemplary talent.

Junior Rebecca Mizer qualified for the NAfME All-Eastern Division Concert Band, which includes a performance at the Rose Bowl Parade. Junior Shannon Witouski qualified for the PMEA State Jazz Ensemble—Witkouski is the first Beaver Area student to qualify for this division in a decade.

For the state ensemble, Witkouski’s audition was evaluated alongside student submissions from across Pennsylvania.

“I was filled with both excitement and nervousness,” Witkouski confessed about the audition process. “The results came out right after I got out of my third period class, so I rushed to PMEA’s website to see if I got in. Lo and behold, I did! It was a very nerve-wracking morning, but I am glad that I was accepted to play with the ensemble.”

The 13 minute piece Witkouski will perform is titled “Tuning Up.” Witkouski will be performing her part on the vibraphone, an instrument she has had plenty of experience with.

Witkouski shared, “I play vibraphone for Beaver’s jazz band. I have also played vibraphone for concert band and Slippery Rock’s Jazz festival in 2020.”

The jazz ensemble will be meeting over Zoom in April to prepare for the virtual ensemble and to begin rehearsing.

The National Association for Music All-Eastern Division includes musicians from 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Europe. There will be a virtual festival this March that Mizer will be participating in.

“When I qualified for the NAfME All-Eastern Division Honors Ensemble and Music for All Bands of America Honor Band, I was surprised and very excited,” Mizer revealed. “It’s an honor to represent both Beaver [Area] and Pennsylvania in these ensembles.”

Due to Covid, the All-Eastern band performance will be a pre-recorded piece for which each musician will record themselves playing, and the parts will then be combined into the final piece.

Mizer shared, “I’m not nervous for the All-Eastern performance because it will be a virtual concert of a recording of our piece.”

The festival will take place from March 4-6—over Zoom—and consist of rehearsals from guest conductor Cynthia Johnston Turner, who is the Director of Band at the University of Georgia. It will also feature master classes, guest speakers, and sectionals.

“At this time I do not know what rehearsals will look like for the Rose Bowl Parade Honor Band,” Mizer shared. “As of right now, the Rose Bowl performance will be live.”

In such a major function a bit of nerves could be expected; however, Mizer stated that she isn’t nervous for the Rose Bowl Parade— although that is subject to change. The Rose Bowl Parade, formally known as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, is an annual New Year’s Day tradition.

“I’m not nervous for the Rose Bowl Parade Honor Band right now, although I might be when I get to California and we start rehearsals for our performance,” Mizer admitted.

Congratulations to both Mizer and Witkouski: break a leg!