Two High School Musicians Earn Seats in the Western Region Orchestra
Based on auditions held during the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 1 Orchestra,
Steven Fontanella (first chair - trumpet) and James Boston (third chair - string bass) were selected for the 2016 Western Region State Orchestra Festival at State College High School on February 25-27.
Hosted by Ms. Sarah Shoemaker, High School/Middle School Orchestra Director/String Teacher, the annual District 1 Senior High School Orchestra Festival was held on January 7-9 in the Upper St. Clair High School Theatre.
Participants in grades 10-12 were selected for District Orchestra by audition screening or application process from the western Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland. Upper St. Clair orchestra students representing USC at PMEA District 1 Orchestra were:
- James Boston (string bass),
- Steven Fontanella (trumpet),
- Michael Gallagher (violin),
- Matt Higgs (percussion),
- Christina Park (violin),
- Nymisha Rameswarapu (violin),
- Savannah Shaw (cello), and
- Vidhi Shah (violin).
PMEA is an affiliate of the 65,000-plus member National Association for Music Education (NAfME). PMEA District 1 sponsors high school and junior high orchestra, band, jazz, and choral festivals for its professional members' students who are enrolled in their school music programs. District 1 festival musicians may advance to Region, All State, Eastern Division and National NAfME groups.
Pictured:
[Top] Auditioning on original masterworks by Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Holst, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Giuseppe Verdi at PMEA District Orchestra, James Boston (left) and Steven Fontanella won seats in the PMEA Western Region State Orchestra.
[Bottom] Rehearsals of the PMEA District 1 Orchestra Festival at USCHS was conducted by Dr. Robert Gardner of the Penn State University.
