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SV Musicians Earn Top Honors

More student musicians from Seneca Valley land spots in a prestigious honor band than from any other school in the region.

The Seneca Valley Instrumental Program has a reason to toot its horn today. 

Forty-one Seneca Valley students have been chosen to participate in the the 2011 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s District 5 Honors Band—that's more than any other school district in the four-county area.

“Musical excellence is the goal of the Seneca Valley instrumental program, and these fine musicians are continuing the rich tradition established by the Seneca Valley bands,” said Varden Armstrong Jr., SVIP co-director.

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More than 300 students auditioned November 15 at Westminster College for a band composed of 125 musicians. As part of their audition, the student musicians prepared a piece from a predetermined college-level solo list.

Besides having the most musicians chosen to participate in the PMEA District 5 Honors Band, Seneca Valley had more students chosen for first-chair honors and more students who earned automatic entrance into district band.

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"This pursuit of excellence is also a part of the expanded performing arts curriculum, which is a part of SV Cyber & Arts, The Academy of Choice," the district said.

The chosen musicians will participate in a three-day festival that will culminate with a concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 in Orr Auditorium at Westminster College.

The instrumental music faculty includes Robert Matchett III, Varden Armstrong Jr., Robert Babick, Sara Snyder, Tracy Glass, Sue VanArsdale and Kelly Levere. PMEA District 5 is composed of all school districts in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. 

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These Seneca Valley Students were chosen for the 2011 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s  District 5 Honors Band:

Conner Thompson*+, baritone saxophone, grade 11

Brittany Huff*, bass clarinet, grade 12

Krystina Rothhaar, bass clarinet, grade 12

Stefany Baron*+, bass clarinet , grade 10

Alex Bark*, clarinet, grade 11

Carly Hogan, clarinet, grade 12

Daniella Ortiz, clarinet, grade 10

Elisa Park*, clarinet, grade 11

Jackie Mortimer*, clarinet, grade 12

Kaitlin McDermott, clarinet, grade 12

Kimberly Greenstein, clarinet, grade 10

Nicholas Wargo, clarinet, grade 12

Sarah Kochis, clarinet, grade 9

Shelby Underwood, clarinet, grade 12

Sam West*, euphonium, grade 10

Alyssa Grasso, flute, grade 11

Leah Marofsky, flute, grade 11

Maddy Fritch, flute, grade 11

Rachael Agnello*+, flute, grade 12

Dan Eppler*, French horn, grade10

Emily Bintrim, French horn, grade12

Erin Sager, French horn, grade12

Victoria DeRiggi*+, French horn, grade12

Josh Zahren, oboe, grade 11

Brendan Linton, tenor saxophone, grade 11

Bethany Sager, trombone, grade 9

Brad Snyder*+, trombone, grade 12

Kenny Farinelli*, trombone, grade 12

Liz Buchele, trombone, grade 12

Martin Chrzanowski, trombone, grade 9

Nikko Paserba, trombone, grade 10

Patrick O'Connor, trombone, grade 9

Zach Ratkus, trombone, grade 10

Adam Johanknecht, trumpet, grade 9

Dan Collier, trumpet, grade 10

Jeremiah Scanlan*, trumpet, grade 10

Jon Selling, trumpet, grade 11

Matt Ruwe, trumpet, grade 10

Scott McKinney*, trumpet, grade 10

Courtney Goodzinski, tuba, grade 12

* These students received an automatic selection into District Band based on their auditioned chair at Honors Band.

+ These students earned a first-chair spot in their section.

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