Pocono Mountain West High School senior Garrick Moravek and 10th grader Nathaniel Partis were selected to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 10 Band Festival, Jan 9 to 12, at Schuylkill Valley High School.
This year’s festival included 100 of the best high school musicians from 60 school districts. The guest conductor for the festival was noted Sousa historian Mr. Loras Schissel, music director of the Virginia Grand Military Band and the Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Festival Band.
The selection process began in December when more than 900 students from 96 area schools auditioned for a part in the District 10 Band and Orchestra Festivals, according to Mr. Jonathan Searfoss, Pocono Mountain West High School band director. The students then audition again at the District level in hopes of advancing to the Region IV Band, which encompasses all of north and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Both students from PM West High School also performed at the Delaware Water Gap Jazz Festival as members of the COTA Cats jazz ensemble.