Three Ephrata High School students earned places in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Festival music ensembles. Micah Bautista will participate in the Concert Band, and Madalyn Sandell and Susannah Schelling will be part of the A Capella Ensemble.
“Earning a place within an All-State Ensemble signifies that a student musician has spent countless hours refining their craft, far beyond the expectations of the classroom. Micah, Madalyn, and Susannah genuinely embody what it means to be an EASD Life Ready Graduate by regularly exhibiting the qualities of grit, resilience, growth mindset, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration,” shared EHS Music Directors Stephen Goss (Band) and Gabrielle Quandel Umholtz (Vocal Music).
Each year, thousands of high school musicians across the state audition in their geographic area, individually for a panel of judges and among regional student musicians. The highest-ranking student musicians at the PMEA Region level qualify to perform in one of six Pennsylvania All-State music ensembles.
“There is nothing quite like coming together for a unique performance experience that only the PMEA All-State Festival can provide. The students selected to participate in these ensembles represent all the amazing music programs from across the commonwealth and remind us of how strong music education is in Pennsylvania,” commented PMEA President Scott Cullen.
The PMEA All-State Festival will be held in Erie, Pennsylvania from Thursday, April 18 through Saturday, April 20. Nationally recognized conductors direct the student ensembles who rehearse for two days before their culminating performance. Learn more about the event and the guest conductors at: www.pmea.net/allstate.