Songfest 2024

Six MAES students were selected to attend the PMEA 2024 Songfest.

The District 6 PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) Songfest was held May 10 and featured six Meyersdale Area Elementary students. MAES participants included Easton Bowman, Waylon Decker, Audrey Richardson, Rayden McNett, Jazlyn Lecorn and Sofia Vought. These talented students were among the more than 160 participants from 33 school districts.

Students received their music for Songfest several months ago in preparation for the event. This year’s Songfest included the following pieces of music: “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” “Haida Kookaburra,” “Over the Sea to Skye,” “Shake the Papaya Down” and “To Music.”

The event was hosted by the North Star Area School District and Tricia Diamond was the festival host. The guest conductor was Ms. Valerie Galczynski. Galczynski is an accomplished singer/soloist who performs with the Johnstown Symphony Chorus. She has performed throughout the United States and Europe. As a music educator, she has directed the choral program in grades five through twelve, taught elementary general music, high school music electives and started an elementary music theatre program in the Cambria High School District. She has also served as adjunct professor of music at both Mount Aloysius College and Saint Francis University.