Julia Allman, Gabriel Sutherland and
Matthew Stewart.
As of February, Seneca Valley ranks first
in total points for Decathlon teams all
across the state.
“I am so incredibly proud of this
amazing group of young scholars,”
says Seneca Valley Senior High School
Teacher and Academic Decathlon
adviser David Reichard. “They have been
working so hard all year. Their dedication,
determination and motivation to
excel at all levels is evident not only in
their scores, but their teamwork and
friendships they have cultivated along
the way.”
At the competition students
participated in all 10 events: art, music,
literature, social science, economics,
math, science, essay, speech and
interview.
These students were chosen through
audition, which took place during the
PMEA Districts 2, 3 and 5 Orchestra
Festival at Indiana University of
Pennsylvania (IUP) in January.
Additionally, Mr. Sedlak placed first
chair cello in a section of 14 cellists.
The festival was directed by guest
conductor Dr. Alexandra Dee, currently
the director of Orchstral Studies and
assistant professor of violin and viola at
IUP.
Students are led by Sarah Miller,
secondary orchestra instructor.
BREAKING RECORDS
BRAVO!
Four Seneca Valley students are
gearing up to participate in a regional
orchestra festival.
Junior Jacklyn Ko and sophomores
Erin Keppler, Aaron Sedlak and Lindsay
Walls Rivera will be moving on to
the Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association (PMEA) Western Region
Orchestra Festival in March.
A record-breaking 19 students from
Seneca Valley were selected to attend
the Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association (PMEA) District Chorus on
Jan. 17.
Based on their audition results,
17 students qualified to move on to
the PMEA Region I Chorus Festival in
February: Ethan Bannon, Sammi Carter,
Seth Cratsley, Cole Eckenrode, Nick
Folino, John Gargasz, Trey Hixon, Micah
Link, Sarah McKinley, Alex Mortier, Eli
Peel, Greta Schmidt, Jonah Smeltzer,
Cassidy Spencer, Bryce White, Mark
Wimer and Caroline Zulick.
Seneca Valley also had five vocalists
make first chairs including Cole
Eckenrode, Micah Link, Sarah McKinley,
Alex Mortier and Bryce White.
Students qualified by auditioning in
the fall and achieving one of the top four
seats in their section of the Honor Choir
to receive an automatic placement into
the District Choir.
PMEA District 5 Choir is a
representative ensemble from Butler,
Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties.
These students are led by Aaron Magill
and Bobi-Jean Alexander, secondary
choral instructors.
ALL THE WORLD’S A
STAGE
Senior and Seneca Valley Academy
of Choice (SVAOC) Dancer Marissa
Waitlevertch will be continuing her
training this fall at Point Park University’s
Conservatory of Performing Arts.
Marissa recently received an Artistic
Achievement Scholarship and Point Park
University Award.
Having attended Point Park’s
International Summer Dance Intensive
for four years, she was admitted by
audition to the prestigious college dance
program prior to her junior year of high
school.
Marissa has been part of SVAOC Dance
since seventh grade and has studied at
the Pittsburgh Ballet House for 14 years.
CRANBERRY ❘ SPRING 2020
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