here - Norwin School District

February 24, 2012
NORWIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Jonathan Szish, Coordinator of School and Community Relations, 724-861-3000 ext. 1150
NORWIN STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-9 NAMED TO THREE HONORS BAND ENSEMBLES
NORTH HUNTINGDON – Norwin School District is pleased to announce the Norwin instrumental music students in grades 7,
8 and 9 who have been selected for three upcoming or recently concluded honors ensembles.
1. Westmoreland County Music Educators Association Junior High Band
The Westmoreland County Music Educators Association will host its Junior High Band March 30 and 31, 2012 at Belle
Vernon. Some 125 students from 29 schools will join to give a public performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at
Belle Vernon High School. The concert is open to the public; admission fee is $5 for adults and $2 for students/seniors. The
host is Mr. Brandon Zanardelli.
Students are selected for county band based on the directors' recommendations. Both Norwin Middle School and High School
are sending the following students:
Seventh grade: Laura Marsiglio, flute; Hayley Lovett, flute; Alexa Loy, trumpet; Sarah Rickard, trumpet; Nathaniel Mehring,
trumpet; Gino Brocco, trombone. Eighth grade: Kevin Crust, alto saxophone; Megan Farr, percussion; Devin McGrail, tuba.
Their teachers are Ms. Denise Bilott and Mr. Brian Jinks.
Ninth-grade: Megan Seiler, Clarinet; Lauren Petrina, Flute; Davis Herchko, Trombone; Brannon Sever, Bass Clarinet; and
Matt Seiler, Percussion. Their teacher is Mr. Greg Ondayko.
Page 1 of 2
Above: Norwin Middle School
students who will perform in the
upcoming Westmoreland County
Music Educators Association band
March 30 and 31. From L-R: Laura
Marsiglio, Hayley Lovett, Alexa Loy,
Sarah Rickard, Nathaniel Mehring,
Gino Brocco, Kevin Crust, Megan
Farr, and Devin McGrail.
Left: Norwin High School ninth-grade
students who will perform at County
Band March 30 and 31. From L-R:
Megan Seiler, Lauren Petrina, Matt
Seiler, Davis Herchko, and Brannon
Sever.

2. Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District Junior High Band (East)
PMEA Junior High District Band East represents the best of students in
grades 7-9 in Westmoreland, Fayette and half of Allegheny County. The
festival is sponsored by PMEA, the Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association. Students submit applications through their band director and the
host director, and a committee selects the group.
The students practiced on January 20 and were scheduled to present a concert
the following day, but the concert was postponed because of inclement
weather. The concert has not yet been rescheduled.
Assisting teachers at Norwin include Ms. Denise Bilott, Mr. Brian Jinks, and
Mr. Greg Ondayko.
3. Seton Hill Youth Honors Band
Seton Hill University Youth Honors Band auditions are held each fall.
Instrumental students in grades 6, 7 and 8 were encouraged to prepare the
required solo and audition for the ensemble. The auditioned band met for
three rehearsals and presented a concert February 4, 2012, in the Reichgut
Concert Hall in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Seton Hill
University.
These Norwin Middle School students performed at the Seton Hill Youth Honors
Band. Front row, L-R: Olivia Bazanos, 7; Zane Varner-7; Sean Parfitt-7; Mitchell
Dolney-7. Back row, L-R: Irene Pehanich-8; Megan Farr-8; Jeremy Bass-7; Kevin
Crust-8; Natalie Clementi-7. Not pictured: Calvin Lasswell-8; Andy Halza-7; Lauren
Pogue-7. Additionally, Kellie Daniels, a sixth-grade student from Hillcrest
Intermediate School, also performed and is not pictured.
Page 2 of 2
Norwin Middle School students Megan
Farr, Grade 8, and Nate Mehring, Grade 7,
were selected for PMEA Junior High
District Band East. Not pictured: Matt
Seiler, Travis Hill, Dominic Gaudio, Megan
Seiler, and Davis Herchko, all Grade 9,
Norwin High School.
Participation in this group is an honor, because any student in grades 6-8
throughout Western PA may audition, according to Norwin Middle School
band director Ms. Denise Bilott. Other assisting teachers at Norwin included
Mr. Brian Jinks from Norwin Middle, Mr. Greg Ondayko from Norwin High, and Mr. Devon Lippmann from Hillcrest
Intermediate School.
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