Students from Lower Dauphin High School (LDHS) were recently selected to perform at events presented by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA).

Sophomore Mia Pegher performed the PMEA Central Region Orchestra Festival held March 21 through 23. Mia, who plays the oboe, earned her spot at the festival after successfully auditioning at the District 7 festival earlier in the year. The 15-county festival was held at Central York High School under the baton of Hannah Schendel, who studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the mentorship of Mark Gibson. Schendel recently completed coursework for the Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting.

Senior Enzo Dreon recently performed in the PMEA District 7 Jazz Band Festival at Central Dauphin High School. Enzo, who plays the trumpet, successfully auditioned for the jazz band and performed at the annual jazz festival, which draws the best musical talent from Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.

Three LDHS students attended the PMEA District 7 Modern Band Festival at Lancaster Mennonite School on April 12 and 13. The students include senior Spencer Sweigart, guitar and vocals; senior Dylan Kreiss, drums; and freshman Ethan Valentine, drums. PMEA's District 7 comprises Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.

According to PMEA, Modern Band is a school-based music program that utilizes popular/commercial music as its central canon. Modern Band teaches students to perform the music they are familiar with while also teaching composition and improvisation skills. Styles that are studied include rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, electronic dance music and other contemporary styles as they emerge. Modern Band also utilizes musical instruments that are common to these genres, such as guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, voice, technology and ukulele.