Hey, I bet this sounds familiar.
Beaver Area High School Musicians participate in another PMEA festival. But such success deserves recognition.
Senior Gretchen Berendt, junior Evan Linkimer, and sophomore Emma Sewall attended the PMEA/NAfME state and eastern division music conference in Pittsburgh April 6.
Berendt participated in the All-East Honors Orchestra guest conducted by Jung-Ho Pak of the Cape Symphony in Massachusetts.
“I really enjoyed the challenging music that we played and making friends with people from other states who love music as much as I do. Even though we didn’t know each other very well at the beginning, the horns became close by the end of the weekend. It was the perfect way to end my high school music festival career,” explained Berendt.
The Orchestra performed Divertimento by Bernstein and Movement 4 of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7.
Sewall participated in the All-State Orchestra guest conducted by Daniel Meyer, who has directed symphonies in Utah, Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Syracuse, Tallahassee, Youngstown, Lexington, Portland, Santa Barbara, Lansing, and Wheeling.
“State Orchestra was a very neat experience. I’m glad I got the opportunity to play in it,” said Sewall.
The Orchestra performed Francesca De Rimini, Tchaikovsky and Blue Cathedral, and Jenifer Higdon.
Linkimer participated in the All-State Wind Ensemble guest conducted by Brian Norcross from Franklin and Marshall college.
“States was a great experience. I had the chance to play in an amazing group and to meet players from all over the state. During the festival we also went to two concerts to see the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Navy Band,” explained Linkimer.
The pieces that the Ensemble performed were Aegean Festival Overture, 12 Seconds to the Moon, and Mont-Blanc.
“This is a milestone accomplishment comprising many years of dedication and effort. We are extremely proud of Gretchen, Emma, and Evan. Thank you for supporting them and all of our students,” said Mr. J.P. Scanga, band director at Beaver Area High School.