It was the county’s first time combining the junior and senior bands into one festival, according to Tyrone Area band director David Hock.

As this year’s self-proclaimed “guinea pig,” he said hosting a combined festival works well, recalling the recent absence of the high school county band concert due to other extracurricular activities.

And it proved easier for both students and directors to collaborate on one date, which is why Blair County’s Pennsylvania Music Educators Association — shortened to PMEA — might “continue this (the combined festival) into the future.”

Practicing for two days is “pretty standard” for most PMEA festivals, he said, as students require time to familiarize themselves with the selected music and peers.

Hollidaysburg Area High School junior Lindsey Warmath (left), 16, and Altoona Area High School senior Star Setzer, 17, play the flute during rehearsal for the Blair County Junior High & Senior High County Band Concert at Tyrone Area High School on Thursday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“This is the first time any of these kids sat together on stage,” he said.

James Colonna, Messiah University associate professor of music and the conductor for the high school band, asked students why they chose music instead of other extracurricular activities.

“A lot of them came back and said, ‘for the love of the challenge, for the love of the art,'” he said.

It’s also interesting for Travis Weller, Messiah University associate professor of music, to work with schools and their best junior high musicians while watching them merge as one orchestra.

“I enjoy getting to help that group come together so that they can experience something greater than they could on their own,” he said.

Messiah College Director of Bands Dr. Jim Colonna directs senior high school rehearsal for the Blair County Junior High & Senior High County Band Concert on Thursday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

School experiences

Before the concert, Hollidaysburg Area first-year students expressed their excitement toward performing a piece called “Byzantine Dances” by composer Carol Brittin Chambers.

The Hollidaysburg junior high band played it last year during their school concert, flute player Alivia Barto-Taylor said, and it was “our favorite song ever.”

Music is just one of many reasons students participate in their county band concert.

Camden Black, who plays oboe, enjoys “meeting new people and finding other people that play my instrument.”

Among other Altoona Area High School students, junior trombone player Jack Slusser enjoys collaborating with others who “share the same passion as you.”

“And the food’s not bad either,” first-year trumpet player Dom Sparacino said tongue-in-cheek, enjoying Wednesday’s French toast sticks.

County band concerts also give smaller schools, such as Bishop Guilfoyle, an “opportunity to play in a large ensemble, where they typically would not get that experience otherwise,” director Bethany Danella said. She brought 16 students to Thursday’s PMEA festival.

Music festivals also make students “feel more unified as a group,” Hollidaysburg junior high band director Deanna Herb said.

“If they feel like a leader, being able to do something outside of school propels that, and they bring that back to their schools,” she said.

“It strengthens all of our programs when we take these students back home,” said Scott Sheehan, director of bands and music at Hollidaysburg Area, adding that it’s a “win-win” for students and directors.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.