Schools
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.