• Oct. 11, 2018

    Numerous musicians selected for honors ensembles 

    PMEA logo Seventeen Upper St. Clair High School students have been selected through competitive audition to participate the 2018 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Honors Band, Choir and Orchestra.

    Eight students were accepted to participate in the Honors Band Festival that is scheduled for Nov. 10, 17 and 18 at North Hills and Bethel Park high schools. Upper St. Clair participants include:

    • Shane Bowman, grade 11, percussion
    • Anna Cancilla, grade 9, clarinet
    • Phoebe Chen, grade 9, flute
    • Steven Halpner, grade 10, percussion
    • Justin Pacella, grade 11, euphonium
    • Nick Pacella, grade 10, percussion
    • Rick Sen, grade 11, trumpet
    • Henry Zou, grade 10, oboe

    Four Upper St. Clair students were selected to this year's Honors Choir, which will be held Oct. 26-27, at Baldwin-Whitehall High School. Vocalists include:

    • Maddie Bruno, grade 9, soprano 2
    • Kailtlyn Clougherty, grade 9, alto 1
    • Eliza Glunt, grade 10, soprano 1
    • Anna Gresh, grade 10, alto 2 

    Five orchestra members successfully auditioned for the Honors Orchestra Festival, which is set for Nov. 17-18 at Fox Chapel Area High School. Upper St. Clair students include:  

    • Paige Copenhaver, grade 9, viola
    • Mallika Matharu, grade 12, cello
    • Joe W. Phillips, grade 9, cello
    • Jason Zhang, grade 10, violin
    • Veronica Zhang, grade 10, violin

    PMEA is a statewide nonprofit organization of more than 4,500 members, dedicated to promoting the musical development of all Pennsylvanians. The organization promotes and supports quality music education, learning and performance as well as promoting and supporting music education in schools and communities. PMEA is affiliated with The National Association for Music Education.

    PMEA District 1 includes more than 550 school and private music teachers from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. District 1 sponsors high school and junior high orchestra, band and chorus festivals for members' students who are selected either by tryouts or director recommendation and school size quotas. An honors string orchestra, honors band and honors chorus are offered to student-musicians by competitive audition. District 1 festival musicians may advance to Region, All-State, Eastern Division and National NAfME groups.