Senior Lara Pavlick and Juniors Kameron Mayhue and Hannah Shumsky represent Freedom respectively for PMEA Region One Chorus, on March 16-18 at Western Beaver High School, and Region Band, on March 9-11, at Valley High School.
Pavlick started out her process by auditioning in front of judges at districts. This would then determine her chair and if she made it to Region Chorus or not. If she got sixth chair or higher as a Soprano 1 to move onto the next step: regional chorus. Pavlick wanted to place high enough in her stance to go onto All-States Chorus.
Pavlick first got her music at the district festival, thus allowing her to practice so she can be prepared for her regional performance.
Pavlick then went into a blind audition on March 16 for three judges. The purpose of the blind audition is to give everyone a fair chance and allow the judges to hear the music, not watch the person.
There are many different sections that people audition to be a part of. The positions are Soprano one and two, Alto one and two, Tenor one and two and Bass one and two. Pavlick auditioned for the same spot at districts, which is a Soprano one. There are typically 20-25 other people in the section that people compete against for that first spot.
Pavlick was unaware of what she would sing at the blind audition, as she would only be told what to sing right before she went into the audition. The audition was sung acapella, which was a vital part in the spot-picking process. Not only was staying on pitch part of the techniques the judges looked at but, they also listened for the correct rhythms, dynamics, intonation and interpretation.
All of the these techniques lead up to the final score given. This then will later interpret what chair each person gets. The spot Pavlick needed to advance is the sixth chair and above.
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The first step of the process for Mayhue and Shumsky is playing at districts as well. At districts, these two Freedom students did a blind audtion to learn what chair they were, same as Pavlick.
For Mayhue and Shumsky, they each found out what chair they were for trumpet and clarinet. The chairs simply follow the pattern that the first chair is the best player and so forth. This chair then depends on who makes it farther, which led both of them to Region Band.
Then, they each got the set of music they needed to prepare for regionals. The songs they will be playing are: “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Salute to PMEA March,” which is played at every PMEA concert, “Celebration Fanfare,” “Italian in Algiers,” “March from Symphonic Metamorphosis,” “Aces,” “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” and “March of the Steel Men.” The concert was March 11 and the guest conductor was Dr. Edwin Arnold, who retired from Grove City College.
After attending regionals, Mayhue made it to state-level ensemble. Shumsky got sixth chair for the first clarinet part and sat tenth in the clarinet section overall.
“ As was Region Band, State Band has always been a personal goal. I have been given the opportunity to show off that Freedom uniform in Hershey, gives me a sense of pride for my school. Being the only representative from Beaver County is truly an honor that I will forever hold dearly,” Mayhue said.