By Kaity Gage and Ben Courson, marketing director and broadcast team

Jesse Stewart (tuba), Jade Allen (piccolo), Logan Krasa (tenor saxophone), and Jared Shaffer (percussion) recently represented Saegertown at the PMEA District Band festival at Cameron County High School. On the first night of the festival, the musicians

auditioned for the chance to move on to Region Band, with Stewart, Krasa, and Shaffer advancing.

Jesse Stewart considers the auditions to be the most nerve-wracking part of District Band. “It’s the point where you want to impress your director by doing really well,” Stewart said.

Junior Jade Allen’s favorite part of districts was how close she got to be to the director. Since Jade was playing piccolo she was in the front row, very close to the conductor where she could have little conversations with him. “We made little inside jokes and would talk a little if we weren’t playing,” Allen said.

One part of District Band that is interesting is that Logan Krasa roomed with three other kids from Seneca High School. “It was fun in the hotel rooms,” Krasa said.

For senior Jared Shaffer, this was his last year to attend the festival, but he was happy with his performance. “I didn’t expect to get first place because I got third last year. I wasn’t even nervous. I was shaking last year, but this year I wasn’t.” He added, “My number one goal right now is moving on to states. I think I could move on to states. I am taking lessons from Mr. Corsey, and I am a lot better than I was.”

Region II Band will be held at Marion Center Area High School on March 10-13.