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Band Festival was a great experience

Dear Editor:

In September, letters were mailed to businesses, organizations and churches in the community of Cameron County. The letter explained that CCHS would be the host school for the 75th PMEA District 2 Band Festival. Welcome packs were being made for 167 students and their 41 band directors. It was hoped that we would be able to fill the bags with mementos from Cameron County businesses.

Cameron County High School Band Staff thanks the businesses, churches and organizations of our wonderful community. Your response is appreciated.

Gifts that were received by the students from your generosity include a drawstring bag, pencils and pens, notepaper, Kleenexes, Chap Stick, candy, snacks, batteries, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, gum and a music folder. Monetary gifts were used to purchase some of these gifts along with snacks and water during rehearsals.

The following contributed: Pro-America, Emporium Country Club, Fox's Pizza Den, L&M Lumber, Fritz Piano & Organ Inc., Malizia & Malizia, P.C., Superior Tooling Technology Inc., Olivett's Shurfine Market, Charles A Blumle, DDS, PC, Caldwell Corp., St. Mark's Catholic Church, Cameron County Echo, The Medicine Shoppe, Subway, Emporium Alliance Church, Sheetz, Northwest Savings Bank, Rite Aid, First Baptist Church, Mary McLean and the Cameron County High School.

Thanks also to anyone who may have donated at the last minute. We apologize to anyone we may have missed here.

Thanks to the parents involved in the CCHS Music Boosters for your help and support in organizing this event. A big thank you to the host families that opened their homes to the students. Without your hospitality and willingness, this event would not have been a success.

Again, thank you to everyone who helped make this a memorable experience for the students that participated in the 75th PMEA District Band Festival.

Daniel S. Sensenig,

Director of Bands, Barbara Ryan, Bandfront

Advisor,

Margaret Sensenig, Bandfront Advisor and

Kimberly Pennington,

Housing Coordinator

Tip of the hat to Band organizers

Dear Editor:

A hearty tip of the hat goes to Dan Sensenig and the committee that hosted the PMEA District 2 Band Festival here in Emporium, Jan. 9- 12. The families that hosted approximately 160 students from 41 different schools from Erie to Ulysses commented how polite and respectful their musicians were.

The public was treated to a wonderful concert Friday evening, Jan. 11 and another at 12:30 pm on Saturday.

Also, congratulations goes out to Emily Crowell, Miranda Schalles, Shelly Sharrow and Matt Franceus. Each of them performed well enough to advance to the next step in music competition, which is Regional Band. Other CCHS District Band participants were Anna McFall, Vicky Lippert, Katrina Reid, Caitlin Miller, Amanda Pries and Tara O'Neill. Good job girls.

Guest conductor, Dr. Jack Stamp, Professor of Music at IUP, presented the audience with an interesting perspective on music and "95 percent." He said that 95 percent in an academic course is "excellent," and "A". A 95 percent completion rate for a quarterback is unheard of, as well as a basketball player and his/her field goal percentage.

Dr. Stamp went on to say that 95 percent in music is sub par and unacceptable to the performer and spectator alike. He went on to have the band demonstrate by playing a piece of music correctly, followed by playing the same piece of music 95 percent correctly. It was amazing to notice difference in the two pieces.

Dr. Stamp's point is that music can be an integral tool to help people develop their overall character and desire to pursue excellence in other areas of their life. Point well taken, Dr. Stamp. I challenge all of us to pursue 100 percent in everything we do.

Lynn Newcomer Assistant Principal,

CCHS