State High’s music program is an integral part of the school community and culture. With almost 20 music courses, at least five co-curricular activities, and a dedicated wing of the school, the program is an inclusive and accomplished group of students and teachers.
Students highlighted their talent on April 23 at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Festival, an annual opportunity for high-achieving music groups to perform. In addition to individual competitions that State High students participated in, there is a showcase of ensembles at the all-state conference, where the State High Master Singers and Symphonic Band were invited to perform.
This is particularly rare for State High, as its ensembles are often not selected to attend. Master Singers last attended in 2022, and it had been even longer for Symphonic Band.
“It was a tremendous honor. And it is really gratifying, I think, for both the directors and for the students to hear from other music teachers who are very, very knowledgeable about what it takes to do what we do; to hear and compliment and remark on how high-achieving our students are,” Erik Clayton, the choir director and music theory teacher at State High, said.
Senior Anthony Shue participated in both the Symphonic Band and Master Singers at PMEA, and was given a separate schedule, dubbed “the Anthony Shue schedule” by his peers.
“I went for all-state choir, but you are only excused from your all-state ensemble to leave for one of those performances, and I was the only person from the all-state chorus that was excused to play for the symphonic band, so they had to make a whole separate schedule just for me. That involved me having like 40-minute private car rides with my instructors and the such,” Shue said.
“So it was a busy day because of having two separate ensembles performing and all the logistics that go into transporting equipment and setting it up and getting ready. But [everyone] did a really wonderful job,” Clayton said.
The journey to PMEA wasn’t easy, and only a handful of students got to participate. Directors had to pick exceptional students to attend districts, then the top performers from the district level auditioned to attend regionals. After that, the top performers from regionals attend all-states.
“It was a little bit hectic for me,” senior and PMEA attendee Josie Varassa said. Varassa is a member of Master Singers, Symphonic Band, Chamber Singers, clarinet choir, and the pit orchestra for State High musicals. “It’s a lot of Thursdays and Fridays off school in January and February. My February, I was gone every week at a region festival or band festival, but it was very fun.”
Clayton explained that Master Singers had to submit a recording to a panel of judges before it was invited to perform. Shue also described the process of making it to all-states.
“It’s different for each group, but normally it’s just like, there’s a basic audition for band or orchestra where you get chaired, and then they take the top chairs, and then they get to go to districts, and then from there, it’s different for each ensemble, but most more than likely the top people that perform at an audition go to regions, and then the top people at regions go to all states,” Shue said.
But this level of achievement isn’t new for State High’s musical groups.
“I mean, it’s a long-standing tradition of excellence, and… I feel very, very honored to be a part of it,” Shue said about State High’s music program.
“You know, things like the State College Marching Band or the State College Master Singers, or basically a lot of other things, they’ve always had this sense where they’ve been sending all these singers to all states, they’ve been making all these groups [do] amazing things. And this has always consistently happened, not because of the efforts of a few, but because of the efforts of everyone. And to be a part of it is a privilege,” Shue added.
Furthermore, at this year’s adjudication in Washington, D.C., all State High music groups that attended were awarded either first or second place.
Varassa attributes this success to the program’s broader environment.
“It’s very supportive. We’ve got good instruction from the teachers, and everyone is very friendly and always willing to work with you to be better,” she said.
Similarly, Shue described how accepting the program is: “Mistakes are common, and they are known, and people won’t judge you for them.”
Additionally, the program is so large in scope that some music students feel they’ll know someone in every social setting, building on the inclusive and friendly nature.
“People just really want to meet more people, and they want to accept more people,” Shue said about the music community. “It’s truly a group I can always feel like I can go to at school events, like dances or things. I’m like, ‘I know a kid from music, I [can] just go see him.’”
“I hope it’s a wonderful, welcoming community and that they feel enriched both from doing music and making music,” Clayton said of the program. “I hope it provides them with a great social environment where they get to make a lot of friends. I hope it also provides them with the means by which they have some of their most positive memories of their time in high school. So I think it’s a really special place and a special thing to be a part of.”
The program is a large community of dedicated people who connect through a shared love of music. Walking through the music hallway, it’s hard to miss the smiles, laughter, and energy emitted by students. This warm and welcoming atmosphere fuels the program’s legacy, which will undoubtedly continue in the years to come.
