Music is a universal power that brings people from many different places together. At the National Association for Music Education conference in Charleston, West Virginia, kids from all across the state came together to make music in band, orchestra, and choir.
Jaxon Anderson, Taylor Antigo, Izabella Aston, Audrey Bennett, Chloe Brammer, Jenna Carpenter, Annabelle Crews, Ella Crow, Brennen Frey, Ariauna Friend, Griffin Harder, Abigail Heilman, Alice Joseph, Grant Kenamond, Caroline L’Ecuyer, Eddie Lee, Brendan Loy, Sophia Lucas, Ethan Matz, Keaira Merchant, Grace Mull, Kathryn Prather, Faith Randolph, Grace Robertson- Villamagna, Kaleb Trimmier, Kaitlyn Tyburski, and Avah Young were all the Wheeling Park students who participated in the All-State conference. During this conference, these student took away valuable lessons from their respective directors and groups.
“The most valuable part of this conference is that everyone is coming together as a community and sharing a common interest that even though we are from different schools and have a lot of different interests, we can all share this one thing together,” said Grant Kenamond, a senior at Wheeling Park.
The conference gives the students different experiences than what they are used to at Park.
“It’s a change of pace, in Young Patriots it is a very small group of some of the hardest workers in the music department. Being in a group of 300 people was a complete 180 and a change of pace,” said Brendan Loy, another senior.
This conference is a place to connect with people who all share similar common interests.
“You get to make connections with like-minded, dedicated musicians,” said Ariauna Friend, a junior. Friend learned a lot from her time at the conference as she worked with a new orchestra and a new conductor. “I got to learn different bowing techniques from a different conductor.”
This conference gives these dedicated music students a chance to shine with the best of the best from all around the state, which proves as a great space to learn and grow as a musician.
“You learn how other choirs operate and the different things that they are good at and combine that with what our choir is good at. We are learning how to embrace different ways of singing,” said Grace Robertson-Villamagna, a junior.
Not only is this a great learning experience, but it is a place where students form unforgettable friendships and bonds with one another.
“My favorite part is hanging out with my friends and exploring around the civic center,” said Kenamond. Even with all the rehearsals and busy schedules the students still find time to be chill and have fun.
“Relaxing with my friends and making bonds was my favorite part of the conference,” said Loy.
Every one of these students got an opportunity to participate in an event that brought so many musicians together and got to learn so much from each other and their respective directors. Once again, the National Association for Music Education has proved the importance and power of music.
