Hollidaysburg Area Music Department 2016-2017 Update

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  CWL students from kindergarten through sixth grade, along with some great sounding parents, joined together on the evening of December 14 to serenade the Diamond and local residents with Christmas carols. This annual tradition was led by student council, Mrs. Bender, Mr. Gildea and Mrs. Stephens.
  
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  The CWL Orchestra and Band Concert performed a December 8 Holiday Concert. Fourth grade beginner strings, the 5^th and 6^th grade orchestra, and the 5^th and 6^th grade band each took the stage to share some festive music with the audience.
  
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  The CWL Staff/Student Holiday Band performed various holiday songs for the all school assembly on December.  The fun ensemble consisted of 5th grade band members and faculty members, including new members Mr. Bill Madden and Mr. RJ Albarano on cowbell.
  
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  The 3rd Annual Elementary Small Ensemble Concert was held on Thursday, March 2 at C.W. Longer Elementary School. Interested students worked with Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Ott, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Villani or Mrs. Stephens to prepare their selections. A new addition was a lovely parent-son duet by string players, Mrs. Lori McCoy and fourth grader Jeff McCoy. Elementary orchestra, band and chorus students from all three elementary schools performed duets, trios and other chamber music with classmates and faculty for an impressive recital.
  
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  The CWL Band was pleased to be included in the March Tiger Stripes Reward Assembly, performing pep tunes to support and cheer for the faculty/student Dodgeball Game.
  
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  C.W. Longer 5th and 6th grade Band and Chorus presented their spring concert first to the student body and then for parents on May 2, 2017, at CWL Longer Elementary directed by Mrs. Lori Stephens. Thirty-five beginner band members, twelve second year band members and twenty-nine singers performed for a wonderful audience. We concluded the concert with our traditional singalong with the parents.
  

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  Choruses from Foot of Ten, Frankstown, and C.W. Longer joined together for a Winter Extravaganza at the Senior High School on December 5th. Mrs. Martha Miller, Mrs. Lori Stephens, and Mrs. Mary Villani led their respective groups in a concert filled with a variety of winter and holiday music. A combined finale with the 200+ singers finished the enjoyable evening.
  
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  In addition to their holiday concert, forty members of the Frankstown 5th and 6th grade chorus provided some seasonal music at Frankstown’s annual Barnes & Noble Night in November. The full chorus consists of seventy-five members.
  
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  The Frankstown 5th and 6th grade chorus performed a Celebration of the Arts concert at the Hollidaysburg YMCA on April 18th. Student instrumentalists also performed in the concert. This concert coincided with the YMCA’s student art show, featuring a display of artwork from all schools throughout the district. This community outreach collaboration was made possible through the support and sponsorship of HASD, The Locker Room, The Meadows Frozen Custard, and Hollidaysburg YMCA.
  
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  The Frankstown select vocal ensemble, The FranksTones, had several community performances this spring. On Saturday, April 22nd, they performed at the Logan Valley Mall for the Blair County Conservation District and Altoona Water Authorities Earth Day event. They also performed at the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library on May 9th. They entertained their audiences with selections in a variety of styles- country, jazz, gospel, and pop.
  
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  The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 6 Elementary Songfest was held at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School on May 5, 2017. The choral festival was co-hosted by Mrs. Martha Miller (Foot of Ten), Mrs. Lori Stephens (C.W. Longer), and Mrs. Mary Villani (Frankstown), and the guest conductor was Mrs. Jayne Glocke from Penn State University. Approximately 165 fifth graders from Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset Counties were selected to participate. Participants from our district included: Lily Ansley, Nicolas Chism, Justin Herman, Nina Meadows, Madison Rodgers, Elizabeth Wallace, and CeCe Williams from C. W. Longer; Victoria Batzel, Seth Burger, Taylor Diniro, Adam Frederick, Cadence Kline, Violet Leonard, Ronn Miller, Keelyn Pedrezzani, Ryan Priel, and Joey Vu from Foot of Ten; Alison Bennett, Jackson Connell, Addison Davis, Ava Dolphin, Nathan Grabill, Noah Horne, Sierra McGinnis, Julia Schmouder, Jack Singer, and Derek Wright from Frankstown.
  
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  During the 2017 spring semester, Mrs. Mary Villani served as cooperating teacher for Abigail Kohler from Penn State University. Abigail worked with the Frankstown elementary students in the mornings, and spent the afternoons working with Mr. Scott Sheehan and the bands at the Senior High.
  
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  At Foot of Ten Elementary, our kindergarten students sang patriotic music to welcome our Veterans in November.
  
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  The Foot of Ten Spring Chorus concert was in April and featured choral pieces from Broadway musicals like Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Grease and Wicked. We were grateful to have our volunteer accompanist, Mrs. Cathy Petre, a former FOT kindergarten teacher, who provided wonderful piano accompaniment for our chorus throughout the year.
  
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  Mrs. Miller and the Foot of Ten School students welcomed a student teacher this year from Penn State University. Miss Cheyenne Baisch, or Miss B. as the students called her, worked with all of the Foot of Ten children in kindergarten through sixth grade. She planned a unit for third grade emphasizing music and customs of China. Her fifth grade unit featuring multi-cultural studies had songs in various languages like a favorite from the Torres Strait Islands call Sesere eeye.
  
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  Mrs. Miller and the itinerant teachers at Foot of Ten School received a grant to purchase twelve chrome books and a cart. The chrome books arrived in early May and were put to use with google docs helping us register fifth grade band students for next year and complete several student surveys. Many grade levels completed various listening activities on the Chromebooks.
  
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  The 5th and 6th grade band students have had another outstanding year!
  
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  Frankstown 6th grade band students performed for their Barnes and Noble day.
  
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  Frankstown 6th grade band students gave a winter concert at Frankstown in December.
  
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  Foot of Ten 6th grade band students gave a winter concert at Foot of Ten in December.
  
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  Frankstown band students performed Christmas and Hanukah songs the week before Christmas for their building.
  
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  Frankstown and Foot of Ten 5th and 6th grade students performed a spring concert on March 28th in the junior high school auditorium. The fifth and sixth grade band consisted of 130 students from Frankstown and Foot of Ten. They ended their performance with the selection “Power Rock” performed together by all 130 elementary band students.
  
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  A select group of outstanding 6th grade musicians attended PMEA District 6 Bandfest on Friday, March 31st. This year’s festival was hosted by Mrs. Melissa Ott and included 160 students from Blair, Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties. The guest conductor for the festival was Dr. Scott Watson. The students gave an outstanding concert that evening at the Hollidaysburg Junior High School. The students who represented Frankstown at Bandfest were: Madeline Shanafelt (flute), Ashden Stitt (flute), Rachel Partsch (clarinet), Collin Edgell (alto saxophone), Tenley Otto (trumpet), Paul Rose (baritone), Olivia Vincent (baritone) and Anna Haslam (percussion). The students who represented Foot of Ten at Bandfest were: Neo Chen (flute), Brady Hibbs (trumpet), Livia LeCrone (French Horn) and Bryan Gearhart (percussion). The students who represented C.W. Longer at Bandfest were: Kelsey Lenhart (saxophone), Allison Melbinger (trumpet), and Hayden Cassarly-Shiffler (clarinet).
  
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  The Frankstown 5th and 6th grade combined band performed an assembly for their whole school on Tuesday, May 9th. They performed 30 minutes of music for all grades K-6.
  
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  The 6th grade band performed the National Anthem on Wednesday, May 24th at the Altoona Curve game.
  

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  STRING DAY: On Monday, October 24th, the HAJHS 8th and 9th grade orchestras participated in a "String Day" at Altoona Area Junior High.  Students rehearsed all day long and presented a combined concert for their families and friends that evening.  They also watched a performance given by a graduate level string quartet from Penn State.
  
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  VETERANS DAY: The Keystone String Fest students performed as a chamber orchestra at the HAJHS Veteran’s Day breakfast in November, 2016.
  
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  KEYSTONE STRING FEST: On Friday, January 20, seventeen HAJHS orchestra students attended the Keystone String Fest at Central Mountain Middle School. The Keystone String Fest Orchestra was directed by a collegiate-level guest conductor and combined the best orchestra students from ten central Pennsylvania school districts.  The students who represented Hollidaysburg this year were: Caleb Frailey, Maggie Haines, Ethan Hansen, Meghan Hansen, Adam McCoy, Elle McGregor, Claire Nackley, Natalie Nagle, Katie Ocker, Kristen Pappal, Alma Podoletz, Rachel Raposas, Ellie Sheehan, Jacob Stephens, Marian Stephens, Lydia Um, and Rachel Westley.
  
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  The Junior High 7th Grade Chorus and 8th & 9th Grade Chorus students gave a Winter and Spring concert, featuring wonderful two and three part harmonies, piano accompanists and soloists.
  
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  A group of choral students performed at the Veteran’s Day Breakfast.
  
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  The Junior High had 27 students participate in Blair County Junior High Chorus at Bellwood Antis High School in March.
  
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  The Hollidaysburg Area Junior High Bands had a tremendous 2016-2017 school year! We enjoyed participating in many events and performances. In the Fall of 2016, we had another successful season of Athletic Band. Those successes include three performances at Junior High football games (one "white out" night game, a student favorite!) and a performance in between a girls' and boys' soccer game. Despite some rain, we had a great time participating in a Friday night varsity game in October, playing our halftime show and spending time in the stands with our friends in the high school marching band. We also performed at Bandarama, the Halloween Parade, and finished off the marching season with the Winterfest Parade in November.
  
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  The HAJHS Bands also had a great year on the stage! In December, the JH Bands and Orchestras put on a tremendous Winter Concert. Each of the grade level ensembles performed at least five pieces at a very high level, making for a spectacular evening of music making. We had 23 students attend County Band at Bellwood-Antis High School, under the guest direction of Dr. Darrin Thornton from Penn State University. Unfortunately, the weather only allowed for one day of the festival, but it was a great experience regardless! We ended the year with our Spring Band and Orchestra Concert. The students' growth, maturity, and professionalism was very apparent in this concert, and it was a fantastic way to end the year. We recognized our Ninth Grade Class for their musical contributions to the Junior High Music Department, and wished them the very best on continued success at the high school!
  
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  The Jazz Bands also had a great year! We performed on the Winter Jazz Concert at the high school in January - one of our sets included three Manyard Ferguson tunes, which were all extremely difficult! Our After School Jazz Band rehearsed during January, February, and March and ended with an informal concert in the band room for parents and friends. These "beginners in jazz" came such a long way from January and were able to perform four tunes, one from memory! And finally, in May we performed on one of our favorite concerts of the year, Gourmet Swing. It's always an honor to perform with the high school jazz band and Fantazia! We shared about ten charts with our audience, and the students did an outstanding job.
  

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  On October 25, Fantazia participated in the “Spooktacular” Concert given in conjunction with Safe Trick or Treating sponsored by the Key Club. In November, the ensemble sang for the high school’s Veteran’s Day Assembly. In addition to their Winter Concert, Fantazia went on tour in the community that included performances for the Sunrise Rotary Club, HASD Administration Staff, Blair County Courthouse employees. Fantazia also sang for the Hollidaysburg Rotary Club. Fantazia also went caroling in various businesses including a performance at Barnes & Noble. In addition to their Spring Concert, Fantazia performed on the Jazz Concert at Scotch Valley Country Club.
  
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  A highlight of the choir’s work this year was the preparation and performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria”. This is a twelve movement piece from the Baroque time period that included student soloists and was accompanied by our Chamber Strings.
  
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  On October 11, 2016, 23 high school choral students attended the IUP Crimson Hawks Choral Conference. Students participating sight read a folder of music, worked under professional conductors, and gave a performance in the evening. Students who were seniors were given the opportunity to audition for the IUP Music Department and given scholarships.
  
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  All students in the choral program are eligible to audition for PMEA Choral Festivals. The following is a list of our participation this year:
  

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  A Spooktacular concert was held in October in coordination with Safe trick or Treat- featuring orchestra, wind ensemble, concert band, and Fantazia.
  
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  HARP"s performance of "Grease"- 4 successful shows, one Isaac award runner-up, Daria Van Allma
  
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  Chamber Strings workshop/performance at American String Teacehrs Conference in March in Pittsburgh, PA
  
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  Orchestra Festival Success
  
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    21 students perform in the PMEA 4/6 District Orchestra Festival in Somerset, PA
    
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    9 students advance to PMEA Western Region Orchestra Festival in Dubois, PA
    
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    3 students (John Rose, Alexandra Kaplan, David Antonowicz) advance to the PMEA All- State Orchestra festival in Erie, PA
    
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    NAfME  All- Eastern Orchestra Festival (Grace Everett.)
    
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  Congratulations to Alexandra Kaplan, a Junior at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, whose talent on the flute has given her many outstanding opportunities during the past two years. During the 2015-2016 school year Alexandra, as a sophomore, was accepted to participate in the PMEA District, Region, and All-State Band Festivals which qualified her to audition for both the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) Eastern Division Honors Band and the NAfME All-National Honors Band. Alexandra was notified in the fall that she had qualified for both of these national honors festivals! She performed with the NAfME All-National Honors Band in Grapevine, Texas in November under the direction of Dr. Paula Crider and with the NAfME Eastern Division Honors Band in Atlantic City, New Jersey in April under the direction of Dr. Dennis Fisher. She also participated this year on flute in the PMEA District and Region Band and Orchestra festivals and qualified to attend the 2017 PMEA All-State Orchestra festival held in Erie, Pennsylvania.
  
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  Dalton Stone, a Senior at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, was selected for the 2017 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.  He performed on the trombone at Carnegie Hall in February 2017 with the Honors Band. Participation in one of the three Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest rated high school performers from across North America and select schools internationally. Dalton auditioned this fall for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board.  Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in his application and audition recording.  Dalton joined other performers from 49 United States, several provinces in Canada, and several foreign countries for a special performance at world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.
  
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  The Altoona Symphony Orchestra invited the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Brass Ensemble to share in their March Concert titled Romanticism Redefined. The Brass Ensemble performed two selections by Felix Menhelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream – Nocturne and Wedding March. As a powerful conclusion to the concert, the HAHS trumpet section joined the ASO to perform a special fanfare during Feste Romane by Orrotino Respighi which brought the audience to their feet! It was a truly memorable experience for everyone.
  
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  The Senior High School Jazz had the honor of being selected to peform a featured concert at the 2017 PMEA All-State Annual In-Service Conference held at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA on April 20 – 22. The ensemble performed the music from Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano. The member of the quartet include Alexandra Kaplan – Flute, David Antonowicz – Piano, Nathaniel Hilderhoff – Bass, and Ethan Cutshall – Drum Set.
  
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  This year has been another exciting for the Hollidaysburg Area High School Jazz Band.   The band has been working with composer Rick Hirsch from State College on a multi-movement commissioning project that will capture the culture and geography of the Hollidaysburg Area School District and Blair County. The entire piece will be premiered next year at a special concert in March. Thanks to a grant from the Hollidaysburg Area School District Foundation, Mr. Hirsch was able to visit with the band on multiple occasions as an Artist-in-Residence.
  
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  In May, the Jazz Band attended the Music in the Parks Adjudication Festival in Hershey, PA where they received a Superior Rating and Preston Shoemaker was named the Outstanding High School Soloist for the festival!  The Senior High Jazz Band also presented their Spring Concert at the Scotch Valley Country Club.  The annual “Gourmet Swing” dinner concert featured both the Junior High School and Senior High Jazz Bands performing many classic standards and contemporary jazz tunes while the audience was treated to a delicious dinner provided by Catered Affairs.  The Jazz Band wrapped up their successful year by having Dave Villani from Data Music Services record a CD of several pieces they performed throughout the spring.  
  
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  This year 20 students represented Hollidaysburg Area the PMEA District 6 Band Festival held at Westmont-Hilltop High School on February 8 – 10. The students worked with conductor and composer Bruce Yurko from Messiah College and treated the audience to a wonderful concert. 18 students qualified to advance to the PMEA Region III Band Festival that was held on March 22 – 24 at Richland High and was directed by nationally-renown conductor Dr. Peter Boonshaft from Hofstra University. Chang Zhe Bickel, oboe, and Nathaniel Hilderhoff, string bass, both qualified to perform with the PMEA All-State Wind Ensemble that was held at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA on April 19 – 22.
  

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  Elementary music teacher, Martha Miller, is involved with the PA Music Educators Conference as the general music representative to the State Student Events Council and also the Professional Development Council. 
  
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  Valerie Montgomery and her husband Nick welcomed a new addition to their family. Alexandra Ann Montgomery was born on January 19, 2017!
  
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  Mary Villani, Martha Miller, and Scott Sheehan served as cooperating teachers for student teachers from Penn State University.
  
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  Stephanie Everett presented a session on collaborating with community at the American String Teachers Association’s national conference that was held in Pittsburgh in March.
  
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  Scott Sheehan completed his two-year term as the President of the Eastern Division for the National Association for Music Education. During the past two years Mr. Sheehan presented workshops, clinics, and keynote addresses at conferences in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Germany, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. He also served on the NAfME National Executive Board and the National Executive Committee and Finance Committee and serves as the Chair for the All-National Honors Ensembles program. Mr. Sheehan will serve as the Immediate Past Eastern Division President and continue serving on the National Executive Board and as Chair for the All-National Honors Ensembles for two years concluding in 2019.
  
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  Scott Sheehan was recognized by Penn State University’s School of Music with the Outstanding Alumni Award. In October Mr. Sheehan visited several music education classes on Penn State’s Main Campus to share his experiences with leadership, curriculum and assessment, and advocacy.
  

It is worth noting that one of the Music Department’s greatest strengths is that we support each other's efforts and are connected with what's going on at all levels.  Many of the events listed in this update were completed with collaboration from many faculty members. We feel that we all are working towards the same goal of giving our students outstanding musical experiences while instilling a lifelong appreciation of music. We would like to also thank the administration team and the School Board for their ongoing support of this vital program in the Hollidaysburg Area School District.