Tyrone Area High School hasn’t seen a state band designee since Pam Detwiler received the designation more than five years ago for her work on the bass clarinet. It has been a lot longer for the students at Bellwood-Antis.
But according to the band directors at each school, the drought may soon be over.
Today, 17 students will make the trek to Altoona for the all-important auditions for a regional band seat. The auditions open the programming for the 2003 District 6 Band Festival, held by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
“There’s going to be some tough competition,” said Chris Laird, band director at TAHS, who noted 11 TAHS students qualified for today’s round. “But our students are focused and ready to show the district what they have. We should probably take about half our students on to the next level.”
Greg Roberts, band director at B-A, echoed Laird’s thoughts.
“The competition will be stiff, but I think we’re going to come out okay,” said Roberts who is taking six B-A students to the initial competition,
Those attending from this year’s TAHS class include Rob Rich, Adam Roth, Kurt Diehl, Katie Osterhout, Morris Reese, Joe Houck, Morgann Davis, Gretchen Kreckel, Chasity Beckwith, Liz Kreckel and Alicia Rodriguez.
Emily Sharer, Bethany McGeary, Rachel Mattern, Glenn Henry, Lauren Otto and Megan Butterbaugh will represent B-A.
According to Laird, the Wednesday night auditions are important for seating of the band for the rest of the week’s performances and for determining which students will move on to compete in the regional competition, scheduled for March.
“All the band directors from the schools in the district will break up and be designated which instrument section they will judge,” said Laird. “It’s fairly tough competition and just a few advance to the regional competition. We look pretty good going in. We’ll have to see what happens.”
Following the selection of the district winners, the festival will continue with two solid days of practice, leading up to a banquet on Saturday, followed by a 2 p.m. concert.
It is scheduled to be held at the Altoona High School Auditorium. Cost of admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Tickets are available at the door.
Students selected as district finalists will move on to competition at Windber High School on March 12 through 15 at the regional level, and a state competition will follow.
“I’m excited with the opportunities we have this year,” said Laird. “Last year, we took five to districts and normally have between two and five students going each year. We’re pleased that we’re taking 11.”
In B-A last year, Roberts said six students qualified to go on to districts. He said the Blue Devils normally send about eight musicians each year.
“We’re really limited with the number of students we can send strictly because of our size,” said Roberts. “I’d like to take 15 or 20 students each year because we have the talent. But that’s just not feasible.”
According to Laird, students from 40 school districts in Blair, Bedford, Somerset and Cambria will participate.
