Marywood University will be represented at the 66th Annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Concert, which will take place at Mansfield University from March 15-17. The six students who will attend this event are Joe Stefank (trumpet), Ariel Muirhead (flute), Emily Carr (clarinet), Destinee DiMino (trombone), Amy Myers (saxophone), and Stephen Trygar (trumpet).
The students applied to the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band by submitting an intensive application which listed their musical accomplishments, such as the literature they have played, the ensembles they have played with, and any playing engagements they have done on their own. This application was accompanied by a recommendation from Marywood’s Wind Ensemble Director, Dr. F. David Romines.
Senior music therapy major Amy Myers explained the students’ schedule for the weekend, “The festival consists of several hours of rehearsal and a concert. On Friday, each student plays an audition for a panel of judges, which determines the seating for the band. The following day, the band will rehearse for several hours. On Sunday, the band will have a dress rehearsal, and the festival will be concluded with a concert.”
Dr. F. David Romines described this event as a “great reflection on the status of our program” and said that it is an “honor to have the talents of our students recognized at the state level.”
All of the students selected to participate in the event expressed great excitement over being chosen.
Stephen Trygar, a freshman music education major, has been playing the trumpet for nine years and commented, “I am very excited to be a part of Intercollegiate Band because it is a great honor to be in it as a freshman.”
Emily Carr, a junior music education major, has been playing the clarinet for 11 years and explained that meeting musicians her own age is also an important part of the experience at this event.
Amy Myers has been playing the tenor saxophone for nine years and participated in this event last year. She said, “I am very excited and thankful to be a part of the PA Intercollegiate Band again. I was selected last year to be part of the festival at California University of Pennsylvania, and I had a blast. The other students involved were a lot of fun, and the guest conductor was awesome. I’m excited to do it all again this year.”
This event is one of the longest running Collegiate Ensembles and is hosted by the Pennsylvania Collegiate Band Masters Association. This year, the students will be under the direction of Lt. Colonel Alan Bonner, retired conductor and commander of the United States Air Force Band.