Published: March 23, 2008 11:47 pm      

Area students head to All-State Band

Strike up the band!

Area students are tuning their instruments and spending hours practicing for All-State Band during the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association festival in Hershey April 16-19.

Getting to this level is no easy feat.

Students must qualify through district and regional competition, and only four musicians in Cambria and Somerset counties advance to states.

“As you might imagine, these are the most musically talented students in the state, and they are just a remarkable group,” said David Cree, state band coordinator.

In all, 650 high school students will perform at the four-day festival. In addition to concert band and wind ensemble performances, other students will participate in chorus, orchestra, jazz ensemble and jazz vocal concerts.

For most musicians, state band is the pinnacle of the their high school music career, Cree said.

“They are so dedicated and practice very hard, and many students work with private teachers,” he said. “They strive for perfection.”

Dominick Carnevali, 17, a junior at Ferndale Area High School, will play the alto saxophone in the wind ensemble.

“I’ve been playing since the sixth grade,” Carnevali said. “This is a chance for you to show off your skills and how much you’ve worked to get to this point.

“This is really awesome and an honor.”

Carnevali said he spends hours practicing.

“You have to know everything down to the last note,” he said. “I practice during school and at home, and I have a private teacher.”

Alex Skufca, 17, a junior at Greater Johnstown High School, has been playing the baritone saxophone since he was in fourth grade and will play in the wind ensemble.

“I’m extremely excited to make it to this level and play with so many great musicians,” he said. “You have a sense of pride in yourself for making it this far since you have been playing for so many years.”

Skufca said he doesn’t practice as much as he should, but he makes it a point to spend some time each day either at school or home reviewing and playing the music.

“It’s just fun and a great chance to meet new people,” he said.

Tanya Gordeuk, a senior at Shanksville-Stonycreek High School, will be making her second trip to state concert band. Gordeuk, 18, has been playing the flute for 10 years.

“I had a lot of fun last year, and it’s great because you know you are at the top,” Gordeuk said.

When she qualified last year, Gordeuk was the first Shanksville-Stonycreek student in 13 years to advance to states.

“I do spend a lot of time practicing, sometimes a couple hours a day. Basically whenever I get a spare moment,” she said.

Gordeuk plans to major in music education at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.

Sarah Misosky, a junior at Richland Senior High School who also advanced to state band, could not be reached for an interview.

The four students’ private music teacher said she is proud of their accomplishments.

“I think this is a fine opportunity for them, and they are all so talented,” Agnes McConaughy said. “I have seen them grow over the years and become better musicians.”

She said the teens share a love of music.

“If you love what you are doing, then you will do well,” McConaughy said.