Strike up the band!
Area students are tuning their instruments and spending hours practicing for All-State Band during the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association festival in Hershey April 16-19.
Getting to this level is no easy feat.
Students must qualify through district and regional competition, and only four musicians in Cambria and Somerset counties advance to states.
“As you might imagine, these are the most musically talented students in the state, and they are just a remarkable group,” said David Cree, state band coordinator.
In all, 650 high school students will perform at the four-day festival. In addition to concert band and wind ensemble performances, other students will participate in chorus, orchestra, jazz ensemble and jazz vocal concerts.
For most musicians, state band is the pinnacle of the their high school music career, Cree said.
“They are so dedicated and practice very hard, and many students work with private teachers,” he said. “They strive for perfection.”
Dominick Carnevali, 17, a junior at Ferndale Area High School, will play the alto saxophone in the wind ensemble.
“I’ve been playing since the sixth grade,” Carnevali said. “This is a chance for you to show off your skills and how much you’ve worked to get to this point.
“This is really awesome and an honor.”
Carnevali said he spends hours practicing.
“You have to know everything down to the last note,” he said. “I practice during school and at home, and I have a private teacher.”
Alex Skufca, 17, a junior at Greater Johnstown High School, has been playing the baritone saxophone since he was in fourth grade and will play in the wind ensemble.
“I’m extremely excited to make it to this level and play with so many great musicians,” he said. “You have a sense of pride in yourself for making it this far since you have been playing for so many years.”
Skufca said he doesn’t practice as much as he should, but he makes it a point to spend some time each day either at school or home reviewing and playing the music.
“It’s just fun and a great chance to meet new people,” he said.
Tanya Gordeuk, a senior at Shanksville-Stonycreek High School, will be making her second trip to state concert band. Gordeuk, 18, has been playing the flute for 10 years.
“I had a lot of fun last year, and it’s great because you know you are at the top,” Gordeuk said.
When she qualified last year, Gordeuk was the first Shanksville-Stonycreek student in 13 years to advance to states.
“I do spend a lot of time practicing, sometimes a couple hours a day. Basically whenever I get a spare moment,” she said.
Gordeuk plans to major in music education at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.
Sarah Misosky, a junior at Richland Senior High School who also advanced to state band, could not be reached for an interview.
The four students’ private music teacher said she is proud of their accomplishments.
“I think this is a fine opportunity for them, and they are all so talented,” Agnes McConaughy said. “I have seen them grow over the years and become better musicians.”
She said the teens share a love of music.
“If you love what you are doing, then you will do well,” McConaughy said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Alto saxophonist Dominick Carnevali, who will perform at the state band festival, poses for a portrait in the band room at Ferndale Area High School. John Rucosky
Discussion
Area students head to All-State Band
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
