On Feb. 5- Feb. 7, 10 students traveled to Berlin Brothersvalley High School in Somerset, Pa to compete in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Six Chorus. Nine have been selected to move on to regions.
The students selected were Lydia Wise, Grace Beldin, Gabbie Beldin, Laura Reed, Sky Rutherford, Novalee Beard, Lydia Miller, Greg Wenzel and Ethan Peterman.
Katie Spiri directed the concert at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7. Students practiced leading up to the concert.
Several of the students have participated in chorus for years. Senior Ethan Peterman has been in chorus since fifth grade and has attended PMEA music festivals since his sophomore year. Junior Grace Beldin has also participated in PMEA prior to this experience.
“I have had a love for singing since I was a toddler,” Peterman said. “It felt really good because I know there are so many talented singers and musicians that take part of PMEA, and I am just honored to say I have been a part of that.”
“I have been in chorus for about seven years,” Grace said. “It was really nice to be able to attend and I hope I continue to make progress.”
Unlike Peterman and Gracelynn, this was sophomore Wenzel’s first time attending PMEA.
“I have been in chorus since eighth grade, so this is my third year doing it,” Wenzel said. “I am very excited to be moving onto regions, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go and participate in this.”
The scoring system used by PMEA determined which students advanced to regions.
“It is a blind audition, and it is based on a numerical score,” Grace said. “They give you a chair, one through 24, with one being the best. Based on your chair placement, you either move on, or you don’t.”
According to the students, the further they advance, the more difficult it is to secure a chair. 24 students go to Districts, 12 people go to Regionals and four advance to States.
“The selection process is done through auditions,” Wenzel said. “You will be given music ahead of the auditions, so you have time to get comfortable with it. Then, at PMEA you do a blind audition with judges who give you a chair placement. The chair placement determines whether you get to move on or not. The further you go, the less amount of chair placements they will accept. If you make it, then you are given more music for the next audition to move on again.”
Despite the weather challenges, the students still made the most of the event.
“Normally we are there for two whole days, but this year Districts were only one day because of some bad weather across the state,” Peterman said. “There is a lot of nonstop singing, so your voice gets tired pretty quickly.”
“Districts were messed up this year, so we only had one day of rehearsals instead of two, but I still think the concert went well,” Grace said. “I had so much fun, and the music was great.”
The students advancing to Regionals are excited to be moving on in the competition. Gabrielle and Miller were happy with their results.
“I am really happy and excited that I got this chance,” Gabrielle said. “I am excited that I get the opportunity to move on further in PMEA.”
“I was very pleased to be selected,” Miller said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Several of the students recommend PMEA Districts for chorus students who are given the chance.
“For the underclassmen who are thinking about doing these festivals, it gets pretty competitive because people want to advance to the next level,” Peterman said. “However, don’t beat yourself up if you end up not advancing all the way to All-States. It does not mean that you are not talented. Just try it, and you may see that they are a lot of fun. It is a great way to meet new people who have a common interest with you in music.”
Chorus students also recommend coming to their concerts and showing support.
“PMEA is just a really nice event and I definitely would suggest that people go to the concerts to support the musicians,” Wenzel said. “The support allows the musicians to keep doing what they love to do.”
