Region’s top band performers take stage

BY STACI WILSON

The three-day PMEA Region IV Band Festival culminated with a concert Saturday, March 12 at Marywood University’s Sette LaVerghetta Performing Arts Center in Scranton.

Comprised of performers from 14 counties in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania, Region IV included the top players in each section from Districts 8 and 9. District 8 includes the counties of Bradford, Snyder, Lycoming, Columbia, Union, Montour, Northumberland, Sullivan and Tioga; while District 9 includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

The band was under the direction of guest conductor, Dr. Ken Dye of the University of Notre Dame.

The concert kicked off with the rousing “Fanfare and Allegro,” followed by the “Trieste Overture.”

Originally written for a retiring music educator, “Legacy of Honor” paid tribute the skills taught and talent honed by those teachers.

Two unique marches were included in the program, John Phillip Sousa’s “George Washington Bicentennial March” and “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite Marc.”

Percussion – specifically wood blocks – were featured in “Danzon” from Fancy Free.

As Dye introduced “The Cowboys” by John Williams, he noted soaring French horns and said the Star Wars composer’s style was evident even in 1972 – a few years before the more familiar space movie theme became widely recognized.

Montrose Area hosted the festival, a pre-cursor to the All-State Festival in Hershey next week.

District 9 president Loriann Kerber, of Wallenpaupack, welcomed the audience; and Region IV host and Montrose director Suzanne Bennici offered thanks to all involved in putting the festival together.

Robert Bottger, a Montrose Area music educator, conducted The Star Spangled Banner; and Elk Lake director Kathleen Amabile, directed the band in “Salute to PMEA.”

Local students participating in the Region 4 Bend Festival included:

Blue Ridge: Skylar Secord, Horn III

Forest City Regional: Don Nguyen, Cornet III

Montrose: Grace Wood, Flute II; Elizabeth Bennici, Bassoon II; Danielle Dubofsky, Clarinet II; Krista Quinn, Clarinet II; Genna Smith, Clarinet II; Megan McVaugh, Clarinet III; Alannah Sullivan, Contrabass Clarinet; Allison Bickford, Tenor Saxophone; Ian Norton, Baritone Saxophone; Tony Bennici, Cornet I; Felicia Quinn, Horn I; Kyra Ricci, Horn II; Caleb Reyes, Trombone I; Tuscon Cutsogeorge, Trombone III; Sean Quinn, Baritone.

Lackawanna Trail: Alaina Jones, Bass Clarinet.

Tunkhannock: Josh Flaherty, Cornet II; Sean Andres, Percussion; Patrick Cronin, Percussion; Justin Phillips, Percussion.

Wyoming Seminary: LaAnna Farnelli, Horn III.