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JHS hosts jazz, A Cappella concerts

Area high school musicians, singers participate in district performances

By Greg Williams 4 min read

MIFFLINTOWN -- Juniata High School is no stranger when it comes to hosting annual district band and choral festivals. As far as welcoming these musical events, high school band director Brad Eargle has been there and done that.

Over the years, Juniata had never hosted the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 4 Jazz and Contemporary A Cappella Concert. That is, until this past weekend. Now, Juniata can add that festival to its musical resume as about 70 talented high school musicians and singers converged on Mifflintown for the two-day event.

District 4 covers Juniata, Mifflin and Huntingdon counties, along with Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and Fulton counties.

"We've hosted orchestra, concert band and chorus, so this was the last one we hadn't hosted," Eargle said. "This was the first time we ever did A Cappella in our district. It's a brand-new thing that they're piloting. We'll see what kind of opportunity it gives the kids vocally moving forward."

Eargle said A Cappella-style singing is something that is more prevalent at the college level, so there aren't many high schools around Central Pennsylvania that have A Cappella ensembles. Although Juniata doesn't have one, Eargle still wanted to challenge his singers.

Juniata had three students participate at the A Cappella festival: senior Darin Kint, who sings bass; senior Jessica Maben, an alto; and junior Jacee Price, a soprano.

"I think the kids did well with it," Eargle added of the A Cappella singers' performance at rehearsals and Saturday's concert. "There's no regional level. They sang, played, had fun and learned some stuff. They enjoyed singing and made music. Plus, this was something we don't have at Juniata High School, so this experience was kind of neat."

As far as the district jazz festival, sophomore Alivia Foltz, who plays trombone, was Juniata's lone representative. Overall, there were three different jazz bands and one A Cappella group.

From Mifflin County High School, senior Nathan Banks took part in this year's jazz festival, playing the guitar. Junior Caleb Noerr was also at the festival on valve trombone.

District Concert Band

This year's District 4 Concert Band Festival kicked off the series of PMEA concerts with its performance, which was hosted by Juniata Valley High School in Alexandria, Huntingdon from Jan. 23-25.

Juniata sent the 11 musicians to the band festival: senior Fiorella Berbergi, oboe; junior Hannah Ehrisman, clarinet; junior Marissa Erhard, clarinet; sophomore Alivia Foltz, trombone; senior Darin Kint, percussion; senior Kayanna Kristula, bass clarinet; senior Jessica Maben, clarinet; sophomore Selena Mayall-Marker, French horn; senior Kate Nace, piccolo; senior Grace Wagner, tuba; and sophomore Natalee Wolfe, clarinet.

From East Juniata High School, five musicians went: junior Hayden Cook, trombone; senior Autumn Fronk, clarinet; junior Kayla Gelnett, flute; junior Joshua Swartz, trumpet; and sophomore Kaelyn Walter, alto saxophone.

Mifflin County's contingent also featured 11 musicians with: sophomore Kaden Baker, trombone; sophomore Kyler Baker, trumpet; junior Reese Bennett, trumpet; junior Alia Diehl, clarinet; junior Hannah Jones, clarinet; senior Ava Liebegott, flute; junior Caleb Noerr, euphonium; sophomore Alessa Norris, clarinet; senior Jaylie Shaffer, horn; senior Noah Sunderland, tuba; and senior Dayne Zeiders, tenor saxophone.

District Chorus

Deanna Stoltzfus, a senior at Belleville Mennonite School, earned second chair in the soprano 1 section at this year's District 4 Chorus Festival, which was held at Huntingdon Area High School from Feb. 6-8.

Juniata had 10 singers at district chorus: senior Isabella Armstrong, soprano; senior Calvin Decker, bass; junior Marissa Erhard, alto; sophomore Alivia Foltz, soprano; Senior Darin Kint, bass; sophomore Julia Martin, alto; senior Kate Nace, alto; junior Jacee Price, soprano; senior Wyatt Stroup, tenor; and sophomore Kade Wagner, bass.

East Juniata had four students participate in district chorus: junior Adelie Fisher, soprano 2; junior Hope Goodling, alto 2; junior Lily Poorman, alto 2; and junior Joshua Swartz, bass 1.

Mifflin County sent sophomore Lia Barahona, a soprano 2; sophomore Breanna Carmany, soprano 2; junior Luke Foltz, a tenor 1; senior Breanna Forshey, an alto 2; senior Morgan Grimm, an alto 1; junior Cora Hartzler, a soprano 1; junior Emmah Miller, an alto 1; junior Max Persing, a bass 1; senior Ava Shank, a soprano 2; junior Malachi Snyder, a bass 1; and senior Dayna Zeiders, an alto 1.

Musicians and singers in district concert band and chorus will advance to the regional level in the coming weeks. The regional band festival will be held at Altoona Area High School from March 5-7, with regional chorus to follow on March 13-15 at Bellefonte Area High School.

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