Six Bethel Park High School students earned seats through multiple competitive auditions to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s 2024 All-State Festival and Annual In-Service Conference, scheduled for April 17-20 in Erie.
The students are Ethan Alberter, junior, All-State Concert Band, trombone; Maria Catana, junior, All-State Chorus, Soprano 1; Felix Kammerer, junior, All-State Jazz Ensemble, trombone; Justin Muench, senior, All-State Orchestra, trumpet; Sam Pellis, senior, All-State Chorus, Bass 2; and Katie Peterson, Senior, All-State Orchestra, Violin.
Earning a place in All-State Festival music ensembles is the highest level a high school musician can achieve.
Each year, thousands of high school musicians across the state audition in their geographic areas. Individually, students perform for a panel of judges.
The musicians ranking highest advance to compete against students from other parts of the state. The highest-ranking musicians at the PMEA Region level qualify to perform in one of six Pennsylvania All-State music ensembles.
At Bethel Park, choir students perform under the direction of Todd Kuczawa. Stephanie Glover teaches the orchestra standouts, and Chad Thompson is the band director.
Bethel Park’s orchestra was chosen to perform at the conference, a prestigious honor only afforded to the most well-respected music departments in the state.