Three named to All-State Orchestra

April 10, 2024

Three Upper St. Clair High School students have been selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. Seniors Isaac Bernstein and Miriam Gutensohn as well as junior Daniel Tung will participate in PMEA All-State Festival, April 17-19, 2024, in Erie.

Isaac is a percussionist in the USCHS Band, Miriam is a violinist in the USCHS Orchestra, and Daniel Tung is the principal violinist in the USCHS Orchestra. The Upper St. Clair High School students are led by Karen Chisholm, orchestra director.

All-State Ensembles include jazz and vocal jazz, chorus, concert band, orchestra and wind ensembles. Directed by nationally recognized conductors, the All-State ensembles will rehearse for two days and conclude with a performance. Learn more about the event and the guest conductors at: https://www.pmea.net/pmeaall-stateinformation/.

“Our congratulations go out to the student musicians that have been selected to be part of the 2024 PMEA All-State Festival,” said PMEA president and music educator in the Octorara Area School District, Scott Cullen. “There is nothing quite like coming together for a unique performance experience that only the PMEA All-State Festival can provide. The students selected to participate in these ensembles represent all the amazing music programs from across the commonwealth and remind us of how strong music education is in Pennsylvania.”

Each year, thousands of high school musicians across the commonwealth audition in their geographic area. Individually, students perform for a panel of judges. Student musicians who rank the highest advance to compete against student musicians from other parts of PMEA regions. The highest-ranking student musicians at the PMEA region level qualify to perform in one of six Pennsylvania All-State music ensembles.

Competitive auditions for the All-State Orchestra were held during the Western Region Orchestra from March 21-23 at Butler Intermediate High School.

PMEA is a statewide nonprofit organization 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. For more information about PMEA visit www.pmea.net.