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Oct. 31, 2017
USCHS seniors selected for All-National Chorus
Upper St. Clair High School seniors Jonah Glunt and Jack Smith are among 281 vocalists selected to perform in the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Chorus Nov. 28, 2017, at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
In addition to the All-National Choir, other All-National ensembles include a jazz band, concert band and symphony orchestra. In total, the All-National Honor Ensembles are comprised of 608 students from 49 states and territories. All four ensembles will perform Nov. 28-29.
“During the 2016-17 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools practiced diligently to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles,” Catherina Hurlburt at NAfME said. “And of those most elite high school musicians who were accepted to their district or All-State music ensembles, 608 of them—the ‘best of the best’—were selected for the National Association for Music Education’s 2017 All-National Honor Ensembles.”
Jonah and Jack are among 18 Pennsylvania students and the only two from Allegheny County participating in the All-National Chorus.
Throughout high school, Jonah has participated in Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Honors, District, Region and All-State choirs – earning second chair at the region and state festivals. He serves as president of Upper St. Clair High School’s Pantheon Concert Choir and also sings in the select Chanteclairs Chamber Choir and in the Men’s Ensemble. In addition to singing, Jonah has won awards from the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers’ Association for both piano composition and performance. He can also be found performing on stage in many of the high school’s productions.
Jack has participated in PMEA Honors Choir; District Choir; Region Choir, first chair; and All-State Choir, third chair. He is actively involved in the Upper St. Clair High School music program, where he is in Chanteclairs Chamber Choir, Pantheon Concert Choir, Men’s Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, where he serves as vice president as well as sousaphone section. He can be found on stage or in the pit for the spring musical productions. Jack thanks Upper St. Clair’s Choral Director Lorraine Milovac and Band Directors Donald Pickell and Frank Eisenreich for guiding him through his musical journey in high school and helping to make him who he is today.
Students were chosen through an audition process. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor ensembles.
Jonah and Jack along with the Honors Choir will rehearse a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the direction of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, director of choral and vocal studies at Oklahoma State University.
NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States.
