• USC High School Instrumentalists Win Positions in the 2015 PMEA Honors Festivals

    Upper St. Clair High School string and band players recently earned high rankings in competitive musical honorsfestivalband try-outs for the upcoming Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Honors String Orchestra and Honors Band Festivals.
     
    Held on September 21 at Chartiers Valley High School, PMEA Honors String Orchestra auditions placed Samuel Ding in the Violin I section and James Boston in the String Bass section for the festival.
     
    Both are members of the USC High School Orchestra, directed by Ms. Sarah Shoemaker, and will participate in the PMEA Honors String Orchestra Festival held on November 7-8 at the Chartiers Valley High School.
     
    Several USC band members are commended for outstanding achievement at the PMEA Honors Band auditions held on October 5 at South Fayette High School. The following musicians will rehearse in PMEA Honors Band practices co-sponsored by West Mifflin and Bethel Park High Schools on November 14, 21 and 22, and perform in the annual festival concert on November 22 at Bethel Park High School.
    • Alexa Drecnik - Flute II
    • Meghan Johnson - Clarinet III
    • Steven Fontanella - Cornet I - first chair
    • James Boston - Trumpet II
    • Matt Higgs - Percussion - first chair
    In addition, Allie Ryave was named first alternate for the oboe section.
     
    The band members are students of Mr. Don Pickell and Mr. Frank Eisenreich.

    Picture file descriptions:
    Honors Festivals Band - Four members of the USC band invited to participate in the 2015 PMEA Honors Band Festival are (left to right) Matt Higgs, Alexa Drecnik, Meghan Johnson, and Steven Fontanella, with Matt and Steven earning a Western Pennsylvania ranking of “first chair,” best percussionist and trumpet player respectively in the entire five county area.
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    Honors Festivals Strings - Sam Ding earned a violin position in the PMEA Honors String Orchestra Festival. 
     
    Honors Band - James Boston earned the distinction of auditioning successfully for both Honors String Orchestra (string bass) and Honors Band (trumpet).
     
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