Play on – PMEA Honors Band

The Seneca Valley Instrumental Music program has a long-standing tradition of excellence at the Pennsylvania Music Education Association (PMEA) Festivals and this year was certainly representative of that success.

This past November, auditions were held for the 2022 PMEA District 5 Honors Band. Over 200 students auditioned for a band of 125 musicians. Seneca Valley had 42 students selected this year, more than any other school.

These students went on to participate in the three-day festival at Westminster College December 8-10.

The students selected included Leanne Abel – trombone, Paityn Armstrong – clarinet, James Beck – alto saxophone, Lucas Boyle – french horn, Noah Bracht – tuba, Sydney Brower – french horn, Nicole Brown – bass clarinet, Elora Dabravalskas – trumpet, Kennaeya Fitzgerald – clarinet, Andrew Golias – percussion, Madeline Heere – clarinet, Sylvia Heilman – clarinet, Liz Hixon – clarinet, Leta Hixon – tuba, Isaac Hixon – french horn, Peter Ko – alto saxophone, Sydney Kratsas – tuba, Phebe Locante – clarinet, Katie Mack – oboe, Colton Marley – trumpet, Haley McKinney – clarinet, Braedon McNally – trombone, Camyn Meanor – french horn, Bailey Milanovich – alto saxophone, Maggie Monahan – clarinet, Patrick Monahan – flute, Lauren Nowak – clarinet, Steven Patterson – clarinet, Jocelyn Repas – clarinet, Susie Roscoe – flute, Lola Schwendemann – french horn, Bridget Scott – trombone, Katie Sylves – trumpet, Claire Thompson – flute, Roy Tilton – trombone, Zachary Tollerton – trumpet, Kami Topf – trumpet, Mackenzie Tunstall – clarinet, Raymond Walter – trumpet, Adrian Wrubel – trumpet, Haihan Xu – trumpet and Autumn Zacherl – flute.

District 5 comprises school districts from Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. To audition, students must be in at least ninth grade and prepare a piece from a predetermined solo list for each school year. These college-level solos are selected by the directors of District 5.

This year’s Honors Band was guest conducted by Dr. M. Gregory Martin, Professor of Music Education and Associate Director of Bands at Westchester University. The Seneca Valley Band Directors at the secondary level include Varden Armstrong, Robert Babick, Sara Snyder and Brian Croach.