Several Mars Area School District students were selected by solo audition for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Band Festival, to be held on Tuesday, March 26, at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School.

Mars Area Middle School eighth-graders Samantha Applegate (baritone saxophone), Charlotte Forcht (flute), Mia Kochanski (flute), Maddie Lee (oboe), Sage Mahan (trombone), Bailey Remler (flute), Beckett Szczesniak (euphonium); and seventh-grader Juliet Snyder will perform with the Seventh & Eighth Grade Band, under the direction of Robert Traugh,  Duquesne University Adjunct Professor of Music Technology and Program Director of Composition for Media.

Mars Area High School freshmen Alexis Abbey (alto saxophone), Gavin Best (trumpet), Sophia Gourash (clarinet), Chester Harsch (baritone sax) and Mei Lien Mansfield (oboe) will join the Ninth Grade Band, under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Helmick, Slippery Rock University Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music.

The event will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmea5advocate.com.

PMEA Junior High Chorus Festival 

Several members of Mars Area High School and Mars Area Middle School Chorus were selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Chorus Festival, to be held on Friday, Jan. 19, at Blackhawk High School.

Ninth-graders Annabell Dickinson, Zoe Lutzic, Ava Moravek, Alayna Renton, Elaina Rieger and Jenna Smith will join the Ninth Grade Chorus, under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Mark Boyle, Seton Hill University associate music professor and director of choral & vocal activities, 

Eighth-graders Riley Long, Ciara Spaun and Bonnie Wilbert; and seventh-grader Christopher Pelczarski will perform with the Seventh & Eighth Grade Chorus, under the direction of guest conductor Erich Lascek, Gateway High School choral director.

The event will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at Blackhawk High School. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmead5.com.

Numerous Mars Area High School and Mars Area Middle School students were selected by solo audition for 2023 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Strings Festival, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, at Mars Area High School.

Students are freshmen Nathan Deemer (viola), Alayna Renton (viola) and Lila Schrecengost (violin 1); eighth-graders Emily Chadwick (violin 2), Olivia Fisher (violin 1), Natalie Hagen (violin 1), Alyson Mazurek (violin 2), Bailey Remler (bass), Lexi Riner (viola) and Matthew Wilczynski (violin 1); and, seventh-graders Alston Hung (cello), Lindsay Hutchens (violin 2), Meredith Lindsay (violin 2) and Elizabeth Shaha (violin 2). Donna S. Fox, South Hills Junior Orchestra artistic director and co-founder, will serve as guest conductor.

The festival will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, at Mars Area High School. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmead5.com.

2022-2023

PMEA Junior High Band

Several Mars Area High School students were selected by solo audition for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Band Festival, to be held Tuesday, March 28., at Hopewell High School.

Freshmen Audrey Stephenson (percussion), Carter Snyder (trombone 1), Kaden Ostapchenko (alto sax 1) and Sydney Denk (euphonium) will join the Ninth Grade Band, conducted by Dr. Jason Worzbyt, Indiana University of Pennsylvania associate director of bands.

Eighth-graders Alexis Abbey (alto sax 2), Gavin Best (trumpet 2), Sophia Gourash (clarinet 2), Amanda Morrison (flute), Mei Lien Mansfield (oboe) and Grace Nam (flute); and, seventh-grader Alexis Riner (clarinet 2) will perform with the Seventh/Eighth Grade Band, conducted by Mark Godwin, Geneva College director of bands.

The festival will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, at Hopewell High School. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmead5.com.

PMEA Junior High Chorus Festival

Several members of Mars Area High School and Mars Area Middle School Chorus were selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Chorus Festival, to be held on Friday, Jan. 20, at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School.

Ninth-graders Elizabeth Kelly, Aubree Machi and Kiara Van Wyk will join the Ninth Grade Chorus, under the direction of guest conductor Rob Dietz, founding co-director of the A Cappella Academy and an arranger and group coach on NBC’s The Sing-Off.

Eighth-graders Emma Ladesic, Zoe Lutzic, Claire Norris, Alayna Renton, Elaina Riegler and Jenna Smith will perform with the Seventh & Eighth Grade Chorus, under the direction of guest conductor Shannon McNulty, Marlborough High School (Mass.) choral director, National A Cappella Convention executive director, and a member of the Blacklight a cappella group.

The festival will be held in memory of the late Don Hixon, the former PMEA director who developed and implemented the District 5 Junior High Chorus Festival. Hixon, a Seneca Valley graduate, succumbed to cancer at age 44 in January 2022.

The event will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmead5.com.

PMEA Junior High Strings Festival 

Numerous Mars Area High School and Mars Area Middle School students were selected by solo audition for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Strings Festival, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Beaver Area High School.

Students are freshman Sarah Buttyan, Naeema Dheen, Shayla Grabowski, Caroline Martin, Anna McGrath, Theresa McGrath, Hannah Wood and Peter Wells; eighth-graders Nate Deemer, Alayna Renton and Lila Schrecengost; and, seventh-graders Emily Chadwick, Olivia Fisher, Natalie Hagen and Matthew Wilczynski. Dr. Jeffrey Tedford, Grove City College music department chair and director of orchestral activities, will serve as guest conductor.

The festival will conclude with a public concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Beaver Area High School. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

For more information, visit www.pmead5.com.