From Dan Schwartz
Performance Manager, Music Celebrations International

We estimate over 1,000 people were in attendance by the end of the concert, and many more came and went throughout the day. Local people were approaching me in the hallways after the concert asking when certain orchestras were performing next in Vienna.

It’s a bit out of sequence, but I’m just now able to write at length about the Celebrate Haydn Orchestra Festival, commemorating Haydn’s 200th Anniversary. The concerts on Saturday were GREAT. Some memories to share:

Helmut [Wondra] (MCI’s concert manager in Vienna) loved the magical moment of being on stage when the orchestra members (especially the students) ooh and aah when they look out into the Konzerthaus for the first time.

When Bay Youth Orchestra director Helen Martell stepped on to the podium for the sound check, she simply started weeping. She stepped off and told the concertmaster to “tune them up.”

Kamehameha High School Orchestra’s Hawaiian piece that they commissioned in the 1990s for their Carnegie Hall premiere may have been the biggest crowd pleaser of the entire evening. Tour Coordinator Nani Dudoit dressed in traditional Hawaiian garb, carried and played a special type of gourd, and chanted in Hawaiian as part of the piece. Right before the piece started, her son, a violinist, raced off stage, ripped his tuxedo off and put on a tiny Hawaiian skirt (no other way to describe it) before going back on stage to do some traditional Hawaiian dance. It was quite a unique experience.

Coe College Orchestra performed three world premieres, including one by conductor Joe Dangerfield. Joe, having just conducted a premiere of one of his own pieces,with famed Viennese violinist Wolfgang David, on stage at the Vienna Konzerthaus, came off stage to collect himself before returning to the podium to conduct a Haydn Symphony.

Our good friend Walt Temme (Mountain View High School Orchestra) gave a great performance of Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Haydn’s Divertimento No. 1. Walt had to take a long pause between two pieces to let in the 400 or so people that had assembled in the lobby for the 7:00pm concert.

Jerry Tedesco from Sussex County Youth Orchestra is a consummate showman. In white tuxedo jacket, he had the audience in the palm of his hand when leading the orchestra in Johann Strauss’s Overture to Die Fledermaus. Helmut commented that they sounded like a real Viennese orchestra when playing it - apparently he has been pounding that concept into the orchestra all year long - “when we go to Vienna, we better play this like we are a real Viennese orchestra!” They surely did!

The Four Seasons Orchestra had three top soloists, including the star of the evening, ASU professor Catalin Rotaru. Catalin, who has done clinics for MCI before, played Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C on his BASS! I can’t think of an analogy to compare this feat to…..it’s kind of like winning the 100m dash with 20 lb weights strapped to each ankle. Catalin simply stole the show and was a great closer to 6 hours and 20 minutes of fabulous orchestra music.

Thank you for making the arrangements for the Four Seasons Orchestra’s Vienna Tour. Our tour went extremely well considering that there were so many things that could have gone wrong and went right instead! You were correct about Oliver being the best tour manager ever. He was on top of everything. I could tell how much he really cares about service and making us welcome in Vienna.

This had truly been a Zen experience for me. The more I conduct orchestras, the more I learn about what is great about human kind and what is sad about our race. When I became ill five orchestra members rushed to help me. Our three soloists achieved the greatest honor of their lives playing Vienna. They performed at the pinnacle of their artistic ability. Many of the Four Seasons Orchestra members expressed their gratitude to me for having the best musical experience of their lives. They loved the Konzerthaus and Esterhazy Palace performances. I loved the Hotel Hilton Danube, the acoustics at the Konzerthaus, Haydn’s beautiful palace, and especially Oliver and all of the people of Vienna that I met. I felt like I had come home.

Yours,
Carolyn Broe
Artistic Director/Conductor
Four Seasons Orchestra
Scottsdale, Arizona

2nd Annual Community Band Festival a Hit!
by Vince Patterson, Director, Rockville Concert Band (ACB)

June 27 and 28 saw three top-notch community bands gathered in Washington, DC to perform for the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial. It was the 2nd Annual National Community Concert Band Sousa Festival, produced by Music Celebrations International, a reputed concert tour organizer and corporate member of the Association of Concert Bands. Sunday’s 2 p.m. concert was masterfully led by Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel, Conductor Emeritus, U.S. Air Force Band. He chose an exciting program of Sousa marches, Americana and popular favorites. Many visiting the Lincoln Memorial sat on its graceful rising steps or granite end-stones; some paused, engaged by the Festival Band, at the Reflecting Pool as touring ducks kept time to the music.

Participating bands were:

• Auburn Community Band, Auburn, Indiana, Ms. Kim Randinelli, Director
• Chatham Community Concert Band, Chatham, New Jersey, Brian Conti, Director
• Middlesex Concert Band, Wakefield, Mass., Mark Olson, Director

The previous evening, Col Gabriel really Wowed the three bands, seated in a hotel ballroom, in sections, for a two-hour rehearsal. Before, several people quipped, “where’s his music stand?” This Festival Band was about to witness something many had never seen: an incredible display of consummate musicianship as Col Gabriel conducted the entire rehearsal (and Sunday’s concert!) without scores. He made corrections to misprinted notes in players’ parts, called rehearsal numbers seemingly out of the air, flawlessly fixing, correcting notes and inspiring players’ responses. By 10:15 p.m. everyone KNEW – Col Gabriel’s reputation is well deserved, a testament to his years of score study, guest conductor appearances around the world and succinct, unmistakably CLEAR rehearsal technique. This band was now his and they played their hearts out for him.

The day before, each Festival Band had performed its own concert in Schlesinger Hall, Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Saturday, the Middlesex Band kicked it off at noon with 76 Trombones, Ye Banks and Braes, Old Home Days, On the Mall, Wrong Note Rag and The Rifle Regiment (Sousa), led knowingly by Mark Olson. For the 1 o’clock slot, Ms Kim Randinelli enthusiastically conducted her Auburn Community Band in Mother Hubbard/ Mother Goose March (Sousa), Sousa Palooza, Appalachian Morning, But Not for Me, 80’s Flashback, Caribbean Rondo and The Devil Went Down to Georgia. The Chatham Community Band started promptly at 2 p.m., effectively led by Brian Conti, in Toccata, Under the Double Eagle (Sousa), Someone to Watch Over Me, Richard Rodgers and Chimes of Liberty. Most band members remarked on the fine acoustics and beauty of this jewel of an auditorium just a quick ride from downtown DC.

Typically, bands bus in on Friday, check in to the Festival hotel, enjoy a group “Welcome Dinner!” and (with reservations made earlier) attend the stunningly magnificent “Evening Parade” at Marine Barracks, 8th & I St., SE, Wash., DC. This Marine Corps tradition features – of course – the US Marine Band, Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Silent Drill Team (spinning ‘bayonets fixed’ M1 rifles), Chesty the bulldog mascot and the button-busting Ceremonial Guard troops stationed at “The Oldest Post of the Corps.” It’s true: seeing stalwart Marines in Dress Blues, Band and Drum Corps in resplendent reds, flags flying and feeling the palpable intense emotions all around you, this event, in itself, is worth a trip to DC!

Col Gabriel’s repertoire at the Lincoln Memorial:

• Washington Post March – Sousa
• Light Cavalry Overture – von Suppe – arr. Fillmore
• Irving Berlin - a Symphonic Portrait - arr. Ades
• Bugler’s Holiday – Anderson. featuring the Festival Band’s trumpets!
• George Washington Bicentennial March – Sousa
• Hollywood – arr. Barker
• Overture 1812 – Tschaikovsky/ arr. Lake (w/ cuts)
• America the Beautiful – arr. Dragon
• The Stars and Stripes Forever! – Sousa. U.S. National March, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, 1987.

Bands around the country are already revving up for next year’s Community Band Festival in Wash., DC, set for June 19 and the 2 p.m., massed band concert – with Col Gabriel - on the Mall, Sunday, June 20, 2010.

With the release of the iPhone 3GS and the instant access we have to information, you may rest assured that when you tour with MCI, we understand your need to connect. I found this article quite interesting and for those of us who have busy lives, a comfort. When you tour with MCI, we want you to know you can still speak with your family, and if you’re one of the touring directors, still email those you were discussing important matters with. Below is a well-informed article that will provide some clarity on how you can connect wirelessly in Europe.

“With my mantra being “pack light,” I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it’s never been simpler to get connected.

If you tote your own laptop, you’ll find that many hotels and cafes offer wireless access — sometimes it’s free, other times, you’ll have to buy a drink or pay a fee — while some towns have Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around highly trafficked areas. Just pay for a password, park yourself on a bench in your favorite idyllic spot — overlooking a sandy beach, on a floodlit piazza or along a bustling people-watching boulevard — then log on and surf away.

It’s handy to travel with a mobile phone, whether you’re calling a hotel for directions or getting in touch with that lost travel buddy who missed the train. If you want to use a mobile phone in Europe, you have two choices: Take your own, or buy one once you’re there. ”
By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

This was the best tour we have taken! This was our third visit to D.C. and by far the most effective. The guides and the concert venues were excellent. I could not have asked for a better tour. Everytime my students perform well and are given praise I am happy, but I am even more proud when they learn, share and grow from their tour experiences. It was wonderful!

A highlight was working with Col. Arnald Gabriel. I have worked with “Gabe” since the mid seventies. I have so much respect for his musicianship, his wisdom, his history and his life story. With all that said, I have never seen him work better with young people. My students were like “sponges” as he gave them lesson after lesson in our 90 minute session. He is a national/world treasure with whom we were honored so share the music.

A concert highlight was our performance at the World War II Memorial on June 6 (65th anniversary of D-Day). It was EXCELLENT! The site cannot be replicated with great visual effects, wonderful audience exposure and a very pleasant acoustic environment for instrumental performances.

It’s always a pleasure working with the Music Celebrations staff and I will certainly be telling my colleagues about our wonderful experiences on this tour.

Dr. Marion Roberts, Director
Blue Valley North High School Bands

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services
updated 8:02 a.m. MT, Wed., June 17, 2009

While Ireland’s famed “Celtic Tiger” economy is now more of a sickly kitten these days, the country is still vibrant as can be for travelers. And Dublin offers the best (and many would say only) urban thrills in the Republic of Ireland. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Ireland’s capital.

Trinity College welcomes visitors with student-led tours. With a particularly erudite version of the Emerald Isle’s gift of gab, your guide explains how Ireland’s top university was started in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I to establish a Protestant way of thinking about God. Originally the student body was limited to rich, Protestant males. Now Catholics and women — even Catholic women — are welcome.

While the 30-minute tour will teach you about the architecture and history of Ireland’s most prestigious college campus, it’s most enjoyable simply as a chance to hang out with a witty Irish college kid as he talks about his school.

Full Article Here

The performance experience was great! The kids are still talking about it. When we stepped on to Constitution Avenue; the crowd was cheering, the cameras were rolling, and a huge American Flag was waving. We all had goose bumps and felt like we were a part of something great, a part of history.

It was a great experience overall and I will gladly serve as a reference for this event and for Music Celebrations.

George Tepshich, Band Director
Shaler Area High School

The parade was awesome!! They even provided emergency water for our kids. I really appreciated that. The crowd was surreal and it was really professional. The parade was the best part of the trip.

I think Music Celebrations is very organized and professional!! Every question and concern that I had was answered and in a promptly manner. I thought the quality of the facility was great and the tour guide was also really well prepared.

Juan Mendoza, Band Director
Perth Amboy High School

I was very pleased with everything - transportation, hotel, meals & tour escorts. The parade was great! Just the right length. And the audience was awesome! We loved their response to our “Jive” section in our cadence where we did fancy foot and bodywork. The organization in the assembly area was very much appreciated!

My personal highlight was the parade. I got teary eyed as we marched past the Washington Monument. The kids also enjoyed the parade and the audience response. They enjoyed all the sights and the Smithsonian Museums. They really enjoyed watching the precision of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the unknown Soldier in Arlington.

It was a wonderful band trip and I will gladly serve as a reference for Music Celebrations if any bands are considering this experience.

Cindy Scheid, Director
Youngsville High School Band

DC was great! I so appreciate how well organized all of the events were. Mariann, our tour guide, was awesome! The bus service and drivers were also great. Our accommodations were perfect. Everyone had a great time. I will definitely recommend the National Memorial Day Parade and Music Celebrations to other bands for future travel. Thanks so much for making it all so easy!

Janice Wiles
Booster President

I want to express my thanks and appreciation for a wonderful festival experience. Your company has been the best I have ever worked with! The photo slide show is terrific. This is a festival I would recommend be on our schedule on a 4-year rotation. I am trying to develop some “traditions” and this is one of them!

Diane Stallings
Savannah Arts Academy

The Belchertown Twirlers have been selected to represent the State of Massachusetts in the 2009 National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on July 4th. The twirlers will be joining government officials, national military units, sponsored floats, helium balloons and other specialty units in this major national event.

Ms. Barbara Kupras and Ms. Kristi Kupras Ochs, the directors, were informed of this honor based on the decision of the National Selection Committee, which considered and reviewed the twirling group’s application materials and determined the twirling group will be an excellent representative of Massachusetts. The Belchertown Twirlers received a Governor’s Proclamation from Governor Patrick Deval commending the Twirlers on their selection to represent Massachusetts in this prestigious National Parade.

The parade route is on historical Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets. A street audience of hundreds of thousands of spectators is anticipated. The National Park Service and the National Independence Day Parade TM are the co-sponsors of this event.

The traditional parade will be a reflection of many American patriotic themes, historical and present, but the major emphasis in 2009 will be Abraham Lincoln’s Bicentennial.

The twirling group will be in Washington, D.C. from July 2-5, 2009 during which time a complete program of sightseeing and other cultural activities will be part of the experience. The Belchertown Twirlers will also perform in front of the Jefferson Memorial on Friday, July 3rd.

“We also just got notified that we have been selected to stop at the Reviewing Stand for a 2 minute performance. Only 4 groups in the entire parade were selected so we are very proud of the twirlers,” said Kupras.

Following the parade on July 4th, they will join several hundred thousand tourists who enjoy the televised performance of the National Symphony in front of the U.S. Capitol Building and the spectacular fireworks display.

Our tour to China was absolutely wonderful! Our Chinese tour managers were wonderful! I cannot say enough about them – Sheldon Poon, Bruce, etc. They were amazing and really made the trip wonderful. I am immensely grateful to Sheldon and to all the MCI China staff for their expert, untiring, gracious, and most effective help during our China tour.

My personal highlight were the last two performances in Shanghai: Normal University exchange and Zhejiang Concert. The highlight for the performers was the concert ON the Great Wall.

We had a fabulous time and I would be happy to serve as a reference for Music Celebrations.

Dr. Sara Edgerton
Southeast Missouri State University Orchestra

It’s going to be very hard to express the full appreciation our band and parents have for the opportunity we have had through Music Celebrations International. This experience has been truly exceptional. From the very beginning of the planning stages, we commend you for your impeccable assistance, your willingness to make every part of our trip the absolute very best it could possibly be. Our hats are off to you and our horns are raised to you!!;);)

Your enthusiasm and professionalism were more than I could have asked for. Thank you for working with me one on one and making the necessary changes needed throughout the months we worked so closely on this trip together. I could always depend on you responding by email and phone calls almost instantly to my request. That kind of service is unheard of. I have planned several class trips over the years working with travel agents and program coordinators, and I have never experienced anything close to what was provided by you and the MCI staff.

While in the parade staging area we were greeted by more than one member of MCI and somehow, your company has hired so many people who truly love their jobs. Everyone was very accommodating and ready to do anything to assist us. What a great organization of people!

The Memorial Day Parade itself was an honor in so many ways. While at the staging area, we were approached by parade spectators, who wanted to know our story. We visited with Veterans from WWII and the Korean war who were located near our staging area. We were photographed by a freelance photographer from Maryland who found our small town story very interesting. He asked if our students realized what an honor it is to be a part of the National Memorial Day Parade. He said, this parade is second only to the Inauguration Parade for the President of the United States. The whole parade experience was absolutely incredible and all of us will have a lifetime of memories made possible by MCI, our United States Senator Byron Dorgan, who nominated us, and our students’ hard work as a marching band.

If you ever need a reference for another school who is considering a trip planned by MCI please forward them to me. I will be more than happy to share our satisfaction with our association to you.

Once again, THANK YOU from “The Small but MIGHTY Eskimo Marching Band” of Bowbells High School, Bowbells, North Dakota.

Sue Christiansen
Bowbells Music Booster President

The first batch of 14 restaurants and eateries, which will include Starbucks, KFC and Nanxiang steamed buns, signed agreements with the Shanghai Expo Center yesterday.

This means that Expo visitors will be able to enjoy fast food, classic Chinese cuisine, and coffee and snacks from restaurants including domestic and worldwide brands Pizza Hut, Manabe Coffee, C.Straits Cafe, Jade Garden and others, in an eating area of 15,775 square meters.

Food prices at the Expo will be the same as at downtown outlets, said Chen Xianjing, deputy director of the Shanghai Expo Center. He said the restaurants would be open until midnight, later than the pavilions which will close from 10:30pm.

The center is inviting restaurants to apply to be included in a further 40,000-square-meter food court at the Expo site to include restaurants, cafes, tea houses, coffee shops and bars.

“We will select the restaurants according to their strengths, their brand, their administration — especially when it comes to food safety — their experience of catering big events, and their understanding of the Expo,” said Chen.

It is thought that about 70 percent of up to 600,000 visitors a day will eat on site.

Click here to view a slideshow of this year’s National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. We’re adding more photos often, so check back!

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — If any European capital knows how to enjoy the good life, it’s Vienna. Compared to most modern urban centers, the pace of life here is slow. Locals linger over pastry and coffee at cafes. Concerts and classical music abound. And chatting with friends at a wine garden is not a special event but a way of life.

For many Viennese, the living room is down the street at the neighborhood coffeehouse, which offers light lunches, fresh pastries, a wide selection of newspapers, and “take all the time you want” charm (just beware of the famously grumpy waiters).

Each coffeehouse comes with its own individual character. Cafe Sperl dates from 1880, and is still furnished identically to the day it opened — from the coat tree to the chairs. Cafe Hawelka has a dark, “brooding Trotsky” atmosphere, paintings by struggling artists (who couldn’t pay for coffee), smoked velvet couches, and a phone that rings for regulars. Mrs. Hawelka died a couple of weeks after Pope John Paul II. Locals suspect the pontiff wanted her much-loved “Buchteln” (marmalade-filled doughnuts) in heaven.

Full Article Here

Traveling international with MCI? Not only will you be experiencing an educational and life-changing musical tour but you’ll also be given the opportunity to indulge in a few cuisines that you may not find in the States. Not only is MCI dedicated to insuring a quality tour, but we’re also interested in the cultural experiences you’ll engage in. This article shows a glimpse of what you might find in some of these infamous countries.

By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Eating and drinking in Europe is sightseeing for your taste buds. Every country has local specialties that are good, memorable, or both. Here are many of the fun experiences that stick in my mind after 30 years of travel. Seek out any of these on your next trip.

Germany’s wurst is the best anywhere, and kraut is not as “sauer” as the stuff you hate at home. Only a tourist puts the sausage in a bun like a hot dog. Munch alternately between the meat and the bread (”that’s why you have two hands”), and you’ll look like a local. Generally, the darker the wiener, the spicier it is.

The hallowed vineyards of Burgundy surround the French city of Beaune. Its venerable Marche aux Vins (wine market) welcomes serious wine buyers and tourists into a subterranean, candle-lit world, where fine wines sit seductively in bottles atop old oak kegs, just waiting to be tasted. Pick up a “tastevin” (shallow, stainless-steel tasting dish) and a shopping basket, descend into the dimly lit caverns, and work your way through the proud selection. Sampling a world of $100 bottles in the company of people who live for their fine wine can be both inspirational and intoxicating.

In Italy, sip wine with college students at an outdoor bar in Padua’s market square. Pour some fine olive oil on a dish, season with salt and pepper, rip a long strip from your bread, dip it, and bite. The last time I was there, a student explained I was making the “scarpette” — the little shoe. Soaking up the oil along with the conversation, we travelers become human “scarpette,” sopping up culture as we explore Europe.
Wherever you travel, it’s fun to meet people over food and drink. It’s part of understanding the culture of a country. Take the initiative not to just see your destination, but to experience it.

Read the FULL ARTICLE

We’re pleased to announce the appointment of Colonel Dennis Layendecker, commander and music director of The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C., “America’s International Musical Ambassadors,” as clinician for Chicago’s first-annual Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival.

During his 24-year Air Force career, Colonel Layendecker has performed throughout America, the United Kingdom and Europe–from Los Angeles to New York, Vienna to London and Oslo to Bucharest.

Colonel Layendecker is a graduate of the Air War College, a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and a graduate of the Air Force Academic Instructor’s School and Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. His military decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Here’s some fantastic insight into the life of U.S. military musicians that was broadcast in December on the Pentagon Channel’s half-hour monthly documentary show, “Recon.”

By Pallab Ghosh
Science Correspondent, BBC News

New software has enabled researchers to recreate a long forgotten musical instrument called the Lituus.

The 2.7m (8.5ft) long trumpet-like instrument fell out of use some 300 years ago.

Bach’s motet (a choral musical composition) “O Jesu Christ, meins lebens licht” was one of the last pieces of music written for the Lituus.

Now, for the first time, this 18th Century composition has been played as it might have been heard.

Researchers from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Edinburgh collaborated on the study.

Performed by the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB) the Lituus produced a piercing trumpet-like sound interleaving with the vocals.

Until now, no one had a clear idea of what this instrument looked or sounded like. But there are several depictions of similar instruments being played throughout Europe for centuries.

Researchers at Edinburgh University developed a system that enabled them to design the Lituus from the best guesses of its shape and range of notes.

The result was a 2.7m (8.5ft) -long horn, with a flared bell at the end.

Click here for the rest of the article.

One of the major highlights of our trip to Spain was the unforgettable opportunity to sing and perform at three different places. It was truly a pleasure and honor to be able to perform in such a beautiful country.

Our first concert was on Saturday morning in Madrid. We sang at Trinity College in front of many little children and their parents. The children were so cute and they were very respectful during our performance. They especially loved our Best of Doo-Wop song and dance. After the concert, many of them ran up to us and asked to take pictures and wanted our autographs. We all had a great time and really enjoyed the experience.

The following day we had two concerts scheduled at two beautiful old marble churches in Madrid and Toledo. The first church was Redemptor. We performed for their service and also afterwards for the people who attended that church. Our group sang really beautifully at that church.

Our last and most memorable concert was over at St. John’s the King in Toledo. It was a very beautiful, big, old church located up on a hill. We could see it even before we parked our bus, and we were all so excited about our concert, because the church was so beautiful. We were so excited as the time came around for our performance; we entered the stage and saw the many people who had come to hear our performance. Our harmony was really amazing and we really got into the concert. It almost felt like something was coming down upon us. After our concert, many people told us how beautiful we sounded. There was even a music teacher that came up and asked Ms. Mack for our music! That made Ms. Mack excited.

I can honestly say that the music concerts in Spain were the most wonderful experiences I’ve had, and I will never forget them. I’m truly grateful to all the Spanish students who helped introduce our songs in each concert and especially to Ms. Mack for giving us such a memorable once in a lifetime opportunity.

Jessica Won, Tour Participant, St. Paul’s School For Girls Choir, Maryland

Thursday, May 28, 2009
By Rita Michel

Shaler Area High School Titan Marching Band joined nearly 200 other units from across the country in marching past the White House in the 2009 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., Monday.

Representing Western Pennsylvania were 160 Shaler Area musicians, majorettes, color guard and dance team members. They joined national military bands, active military and specialty units, floats, other marching bands and veterans of conflicts from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The parade marked the first time in more than 10 years a district marching band had participated in a national event. “This was a huge honor for us and our school district,” said George Tepshich, director of the band for the past three years.

Full Article Here