Top row (L to R): Bradley Miehle, Kristian Nistad, Brayden Hoffmann, Tyler Marino, Nathan Freethy, Maya Walek, Kaiya Kampf, Theodora Whitehouse
Bottom Row (L to R): Genevieve Neenan, Adeena Chapman, Nora Warner, Hunter Sasala, Sara Kovacs, Winifred Morrison, Molly McGinnis, Orson Whitehouse
By: Nora Warner
Photo: Mr. Warner
Last week, 16 students represented Wallenpaupack at the PMEA District 9 Band Festival. The participating students are pictured and listed above. The event took place from February 4 to February 6 and was hosted by Dallas Area High School. To be selected for the festival, students submitted recorded auditions and were placed among the top students on their instrument in our area.
Upon arrival on Wednesday, students auditioned for their ranking and placement in the Regional Band in March. The following 11 students earned spots in the region band (listed in instrumental order):
Nora Warner on oboe, Theodora Whitehouse on clarinet, Molly McGinnis on French Horn, Brayden Hoffmann, Kristian Nistad, and Orson Whitehouse on trumpet, Tyler Marino, Sara Kovacs, and Hunter Sasala on trombone, and Winifred Morrison and Bradley Miehle on Euphonium.
Nora, Tyler, Hunter, and Bradley all placed first on their respective parts.
11 students tie our school record for most students advancing to regions. Wallenpaupack also sent the most students to district band out of the participating schools and has the largest group moving on to regions from our district this year.
Nora, Tyler, Hunter, and Bradley all placed first on their respective parts.
On Thursday and Friday, students rehearsed a challenging program in preparation for their concert on Friday night. The guest conductor for the event was Dr. Todd Nichols, the Director of Bands at Rutgers University. Dr. Nichols not only has an impressive resume as a conductor of high School and collegiate bands but has worked with many high-profile musicians as a percussion performer. He shared both experiences during the festival.
On Friday evening, students performed their concert. The program was challenging and featured a variety of instrumentalists and composers from many different backgrounds. Wallenpaupack students Bradley Miehle and Hunter Sasala were featured as soloists. The group performed:
In Living Color by Katahj Copley
Hebrides Suite by Clare Grundman
Melodious Thunk by David Biedenbender
Symphony No.4 by Andrew Boysen Jr.
Sentimentale by Satoshi Yagisawa
Opa! by Julie Giroux
Participating in this festival is not only a valuable educational experience but an achievement that is a testament to their dedication to hard work as musicians and people. Congratulations to all of the District Band members!
