USA East Music BULLETIN - WINTER 2019/20 - ISSUE 4 | Page 24

WESTERN PENN NEWS
By Bryan Cook, Divisional Music Director, Western Pennsylvania Division
JANUARY 2020 — This last summer,
the division held four weeks of music
conservatories. These conservatories
included Junior and Senior Brass
Conservatories, Brass Crash (for
beginners and their corps officers),
Dance Camp, Drumline Camp, School
of Rock (Contemporary Worship), and
Musical Theater Camp. The two-week
musical theater camp culminated in a
live, one-hour performance of Disney’s
Aladdin Junior.
Building from the momentum of
the successful summer, the Divisional
Music and Arts (DMA) program kicked
off in September with more than 130
participants. For the first time, DMA
was able to have three bands (including
a beginning band), totaling more than
50 brass musicians!
The Western Pennsylvania Division
Music and Creative Arts Department
is pleased to welcome Jelani Weekes
to the team. Jelani’s responsibilities
include the oversight and development
of the Beaver County Music School
(BCMS). This last Christmas, the BCMS
band had several opportunities to
share God’s love through music.
The band performed a concert at a
neighboring church and played at
the downtown Aliquippa Annual Tree
Lighting. Dwan Walker, the Mayor of
Aliquippa, congratulated the members
of the band, calling them the “future of
Aliquippa.”
Similarly, Bandsman from the
division proudly represented the
division at a dozen holiday events
this season. At the Pittsburgh Santa
Spectacular and Allegheny County
Building Tree Lighting on November
22nd, divisional ensembles braved the
cold temperatures and strong winds
to play for more than a thousand
neighbors. For some of the bandsman,
it was their first time caroling! ■
2020 VISION CONGRESS
24 • USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN | W I N T E R 2019/20
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