BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
Times-Shamrock Writer

With their flutes, clarinets, saxophones and trumpets, more than 140 students came together to make music on Saturday.

Held at Marywood University, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Band Festival included students from 35 high schools in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

The three-day festival included hours of practice and ended Saturday with a concert at Marywood’s Sette LaVerghetta Performing Arts Center.

With most students wearing their marching band uniforms, several hundred friends and family members listened to the students perform selections from a variety of composers.

The festival also included auditions to move on to the next level of PMEA festivals — the regional band festival, which is scheduled for next month in Williamsport. At that festival, students audition for the state festival.

This was the second year Tony Bennici, a junior from Montrose Area, participated at the district level. Last year, the trumpet player advanced to the state level. He also participated in all-state jazz band last year.

“It has helped me grow as a musician,” he said. “It’s really awesome to put together some tough music.”
Students received their music a month ago and put hours of practice in before the festival began.

The festival not only showcases the talent in area schools, it also inspires students.

The last three days convinced Eric Lee, a sophomore from Valley View, to be a lifelong musician.
“It’s a really neat experience,” the clarinet player said.

The District 9 band was under the direction of Dr. F. David Romines, Director of Bands at Marywood University. Montrose High School band director Suzanne Bennici served as the festival host.

Local students from Susquehanna and Wyoming county schools participating in the District 9 band included:
Flute II: Cassandra Brown, Lackawanna Trail; Ashley Distad, Montrose; Catherine Huhn, Tunkhannock.

Bassoon I: Keegan Ficcaro, Mountain View.
Clarinet 1: Megan McVaugh, Montrose; Genna Smith, Montrose, Daniel Staros, Susquehanna.
Clarinet II: Alyssa Nichols, Tunkhannock; Amanda Stutzman, Lackwanna Trail.
Clarinet III: Jordyn King, Tunkhannock; Allison Lamoreaeux, Tunkhannock; Krista Quinn, Montrose; Allison Wetherbee, Tunkhannock.
Alto Saxophone: Kelsey Hopkins, Lackawanna Trail.
Tenor Saxophone: Eric Holmes, Lackawanna Trail.
Baritone Saxophone: Adam Lynn, Mountain View; Ian Norton, Montrose.
Cornet I: Tony Bennici, Montrose.
Cornet II: Don Nguyen, Forest City.
Cornet III: Alan Brucher, Forest City; Nick Swaha, Blue Ridge.
Horn I: Matthew Farrell, Lackawanna Trail.
Horn II: Kyra Ricci, Montrose.
Horn III: Felicia Quinn, Montrose.
Horn IV: LaAnna Farnelli, Elk Lake; Skylar Secord, Blue Ridge.
Baritone: Hunter Migus, Tunkhannock; Sean Quinn, Montrose.
Trombone I: Joseph Merolla, Lackawanna Trail.
Trombone III: Kassandra Tilley, Tunkhannock.
Tuba: Justin Cooper, Tunkhannock; Clayton Hansen, Susquehanna.
Percussion: Sonny Albright, Forest City; Sean Andres, Tunkhannock; Patrick Cronin, Tunkhannock; Justin Phillips, Tunkhannock.
Staci Wilson, staff writer, contributed to this report.