As a middle school musician, Swain Band Director Caitlin Heckman was selected to participate in band and orchestra festivals sponsored by PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) District 10. Now as a member of PMEA, she can provide these opportunities to her own students.
"These events give the students the opportunity to play with and for people who are not their peers and families, and allows the more advanced students to play more challenging music with other advanced students," said Mrs. Heckman. "I grew up attending PMEA festivals, and it's so wonderful to be able to share those experiences with our students!"
Mrs. Heckman was asked to nominate band students based on their musical ability, work ethic, and maturity, and while not all students who are nominated are selected, it says a lot for them just to be nominated.
On April 15, eighth graders Michael Long (flute) 
and Will Bingham (percussion) and seventh grader Aedryss Benkrid (baritone) participated in the Intermediate Band and Orchestra festival at Blue Mountain High School. They spent the entire day with about 100 other select middle schoolers from all over the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, rehearsing with a guest conductor and presenting a concert in the evening.
Said Mrs. Heckman, "The concert was absolutely excellent! It's amazing to think these are middle school musicians. It was a great day of music making!"
On May 20, the Elementary Band and Orchestra festival will be held at Springhouse Middle School. Sixth grader Sebastian Holbrook (tenor sax) and fifth grader John McKernan (percussion) will be participating in that festival.
In another opportunity, Allentown Central Catholic High School hosts a Side-by-Side festival for 6th-8th grade students to rehearse all day and present an evening concert alongside ACCHS band and choir students. Sixth grader Reese Wilten (trumpet) and seventh grader Aedryss Benkrid (baritone) participated - they are pictured with Mrs. Heckman, who is also the assistant marching band director at ACCHS. (Swain alum Thomas Cope '14 also participated in the ACCHS band at the festival.)
This festival also includes an opportunity for students to audition on any instrument or voice part, performing a short solo for a judge. They are judged on rhythm, tone, musicality, and articulation. Aedryss won second place on baritone, and third place for his violin performance.
Congratulations to all of our musicians!
More amazing results...
Results - and the processes to secure them - were on display Thursday evening at our Grades 3-8 Student Work Showcase. Families and friends saw projects ranging from portraying famous historical figures - to improvisational acting - to a replica of the Great Wall of China that lit up - to seeing how MathCounts and PJAS competitions run - to watching student artists at work!
Right: Eighth grader Jillayne Gumbs 
puts the finishing touches on her piece that will be displayed in our big Student Art Show this week (opens Tuesday evening at 6 p.m., runs Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday morning until noon).
These were just a few of the many activities and projects on display. Many thanks to all who supported our students!
Click on the photo for more images from an exciting event -
We are happy to shake off winter and get back out into our organic garden - but first there's clean-up to do! Second graders in Mrs. Weiss' science class got a hand from their fourth grade friends, to prep the beds for planting.
