Every year, students from Bethel Park’s music department audition to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District Choir. This year, a whopping 18 students succeeded in their audition. Seniors, Holly Brueggman, Mackenzie Happe, Lucy Sedor-Franzak, Marlene Meier, Madilyn Carothers, Liz Elek, Alex Light, Nick Spagnolo, Skyler Yarroll, Matt Sartore, and Matt Serafini will attend the District festival, along with Juniors, Christina Cvetic, Zach Laufer, Ben Muscato and Nick Pilotta, and Sophomores Tyler Krzyzanowski, Patrick Raymond, and Josh Como.

Last Monday, these students traveled to Belle Vernon High School along with students from many other schools in our area, such as North Allegheny, Canon Mac, and Upper St. Clair. It was here that the audition process took place. The students were divided into their voice parts, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. The students each took their turn to impress the judges. Each audition room for each voice part consisted of three judges, all with their backs turned to the students, so as to only judge them by their voice.

The students had been learning the  music for a few months, and they were given a small section of it to sing a few minutes before their audition. After the audition, the students all headed home and awaited the results that would be posted the next day.

The 18 students that were accepted into District chorus will travel to the festival sometime in January, and at that festival, they will audition for Region Chorus. Between now and January, the students will have to learn somewhere around 10 pieces of music to perform for the festival. These pieces will also be used for their Region audition.

The students that make it through Regions will pass through to States, which is sometime in April. Bethel Park has a great history of taking students all the way to States, and almost every year a few students attend.

These students have a long year ahead of them, and they are ready to take on the challenge. Good luck to all participating!