Almost 200 of the most talented young vocal musicians from northwestern Pennsylvania have gathered together in Warren County.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, months of individual practice and two grueling days of group rehearsals will come together at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 2 Choral Festival concert at Warren Area High School.
The entire district is hosting the event, with choir directors Joy McMonigal (Sheffield), Denise Pearson (Eisenhower), Christina Montgomery (Youngsville), and Rob Pearce (Warren) acting as co-hosts.
Dr. Douglas Brown of Grove City College is the guest conductor. The District festival is not the first influence Brown has had on some of Warren County's music programs. "He was one of Mr. Pearce's professors, and Mr. Pearce was my choir director," McMonigal said.
According to McMonigal, students from about 45 schools throughout the region are participating in the event.
Auditions were held Wednesday evening to determine seatings and which students would advance to the Regional Choral Festival in March at Ridgway.
"We have several students from Warren County who chaired for regionals," McMonigal said.
The students rehearsed all day Thursday - from 8:15 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
"It's pretty intense," Kenny Anderson of Warren Area High School said.
"It's definitely tiring," McMonigal said. "Lots of water. Lots of breaks."
There is no opportunity to take it easy. "It's really tiring, but you have to focus to get the music down," Andy Lalwani of Youngsville High School said.
The schedule is much the same for Friday, except the musicians get to wind down with a dance at the end of the evening.
Unlike choirs at most high schools, the large size of the district group allows for eight parts - Soprano I and II, Alto I and II, Tenor I and II, and Bass I and II.
Another difference is the number of boys in the group.
"A lot of these schools have a high percentage of female voices," McMonigal said. "When they come to an event like this, they get to hear strong male voices."
"It's great to hear the masses of people... all the vocal sounds coming together as one product," Lalwani said.
"The sound we produce on stage is phenomenal," Mollie Marsh of Eisenhower High School said.
Bringing so many young people with common interests together results in new friendships.
"They build a lot of strong connections," McMonigal said. "They walk away with a lot of new Facebook friends and cell phone numbers.
"There are a lot of new people to meet," Deming said.
Some 60 families from all over the county are providing lodging for the visitors.
The show will wrap up at about 2:15 Saturday afternoon, but the effects will last much longer.
"I marvel at what these PMEA festivals do for the students selected, as well as for the students back in the choir room who never get this opportunity," Pearson said. "Our PMEA participants return to their school choirs with a professional attitude and openness to all kinds of repertoire which is contagious. They serve as mentors and role models."
"After being here they see what they can accomplish and take that back to their home schools," McMonigal said.
"I'll go back and know that I can do so much more than I have done," Mollie Marsh said. "It's the single best musical experience I've had in my life."
