From left are Claire Peterson, Grace Peterson, Charlie Bielawski, Jaxon Wotorson and Jace Casias.

Five students from Beaty Warren Middle School were selected from 21 different schools around the northwestern region of Pennsylvania to participate in a concert with 120 student musicians on Friday evening. The Elementary Bandfest took place at the Strong Vincent Middle School in Erie.

Chris Wise, band and orchestra director and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 2 Music Advocacy Chair, has an impressive musical journey that allows him to convey his enthusiasm for music in order to help students realize and reach their potential. “Music is a never-ending journey and the possibilities are endless,” he said. “I feel it is my duty as a music educator to show them that.”

Experiences like these help small city and town students with exposure to big city students, competing with young musicians from places like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Learning what they are up against, student musicians who plan to pursue a career in music can learn how to become better prepared for college auditions.

Other association events include Junior District, Senior District, Region, and All-States for band, orchestra, and choir. Recently, Robert Malczyk from Warren Area High School made both region band and region orchestra this year.

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association is a 90-year-old statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the musical development of all Pennsylvanians. Membership in PMEA has evolved greatly from a small group of band directors dating from 1933.

The organization includes those engaged in music instruction at all levels, from preschool through college and university and more. The organization promotes and supports quality music education, learning and performance as well as promoting and supporting music education in schools and communities. PMEA is affiliated with The National Association for Music Education, NAfME. PMEA has over 3,700 members and 12 districts across the state.

District 2 consists of Erie, Crawford, Warren, McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron Counties.

An upcoming concert for the Warren County School District will be on April 18 at 2 p.m. The performance will be by the PMEA Jr. District Band hosted by Matthew McClard and Sheffield Elementary Middle School

Check out the WCSD website and Facebook to view an entire WCSD Spring Concert schedule.