Breanna Forshey

LEWISTOWN — Whether it’s band or chorus, music is music to Breanna Forshey. The Mifflin County High School senior doesn’t mind sharing her feelings when it comes to music.

“Music is my passion and my passions bring me tears of joy,” Forshey posted on her social media.

Forshey probably experienced a few tears of joy recently when she was invited to participate in the 2025 Eastern Division Honors Ensembles, specifically the Treble Chorus. Selected as an alto 2, this event takes place every other year, and students must have achieved all-state level the previous year in order to be considered, explained Vicki Fensterbush, the choral director at Mifflin County High School and Mifflin County Junior High School.

The All-Eastern Conference is sponsored by the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and includes students from Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware.

The All-Eastern treble chorus is made up of 136 female voices from those states. At the same time this rehearsal is happening, there is also an All-Eastern Modern Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Mixed Chorus and Jazz Band rehearsing for concerts during the same weekend.

The conference, hosted by the Connecticut Music Educators Association, will be held in Hartford, Conn., this year. Despite qualifying Forshey and other participants must arrange their own transportation and fees in order to participate for the four days.

Due to the event taking place out of state, the Mifflin County School District does not pay for students to participate, even though this is the highest level of musical achievement a student can receive on the high school level. Fensterbush added.

The Treble Chorus will be conducted by Jessica Napoles, professor of Choral Music Education from the University of North Texas. Concerts will be held in the Bushnell Performing Arts Center, with Forshey and the Treble Chorus set to take the stage at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 27.

Forshey will make the long and early drive from Mifflin County on Thursday, April 24, and rehearse from Thursday to Saturday with the Treble Chorus.

Anyone would like to make a donation to help Forshey with the cost of her trip, can mail a check to MCHS Choir, 501 Sixth St., Lewistown, PA 17044.