PMEA WEstern Region Orchestra 2025
Dates: February 20-22, 2025
Guest Conductor:
Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas
Location:
Richland High School
1 Academic Ave
Johnstown, PA 15904
Entrance - Use Fine Arts Door.
Concert: February 22, 2025
Time: 11 AM
Cost: $5 Adult, $3 Student. Tickets only available at the door.
Hotel Information
Students will be housed at:
Comfort Inn
455 Theatre Dr, Johnstown, PA 15904
AND
The Hampton Inn 129 Commerce Ct, Johnstown, PA 15904.
An initial rooming list will be sent to directors next week.
Directors are encouraged to utilize:
The Holiday Inn Express on Scalp Avenue.
1440 Scalp Ave, Johnstown, PA 15904
There will be a block of rooms for "PMEA Directors"
Director Folder
All Directors should be emailed access to the director folder by Monday, January 13th. If you have not received access by that point, please email Ben Easler at [email protected] to make sure you are on the email list.
Schedule
Commuter Invoice
Hotel Invoice
Instrumentation List by Piece
Part Clarifications:
-All flutes are responsible for learning the piccolo parts in addition to their part. In this case, the Flute 1 folder will include Flute 2 parts that contain Piccolo sections. The player who will be assigned to each piccolo part will be determined by the audition process. Piccolo is worth 15% of the overall flute score.
-All Winds and Percussion have an “equalizer piece”. This piece will be chosen as part of your audition by the audition committee.
-All violins have a re-audition piece. Violin I chairs number 13, 14, 15, and 16 will re-audition against Violin II chairs number 9, 10, 11, and 12. This re-audition will determine the Violin II positions 9, 10, 11, and 12 for the All State Orchestra.
-Every percussionist auditions on “total percussion.” All percussion part assignments will be made by the percussion audition committee during auditions. Percussionists audition on “total percussion” for advancement to the state orchestra.
-English Horn - English Horn Parts are assigned via the Region Orchestra Meeting to an oboist. This is not part of the oboe audition.
-Bass Clarinet - A student will be added to cover the bass clarinet parts.
-Split parts - For all parts that are split, (Ex Clarinet 1-2 on the same part), you are responsible for playing only your part. Top line - clarinet 1, Bottom line - Clarinet 2, etc.
-For Komm Susser Tod, there are 4 Trombone Parts on one part as well as the Tuba part. Bass trombone should prepare the Trombone 3 and 4 parts.
-Any other questions that come up or corrections may be added to the website above, so please check there first. Remaining questions may be addressed to Ben Easler, Festival Host at [email protected] or Kelly Detwiler, WRO Festival Coordinator at [email protected].
-All students must complete the Arbiter medical form by January 21st .
Program
I - The Montagues and Capulets, from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2.
Komm, süsser Tod by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arr. Stokowski
The Flight To Neverland (From Hook) by John Williams
Imagine Symphony by Chris Thomas - Find out more and listen to this piece here
We will be performing this piece in sync with pre-recorded elements and the video seen at the link above. You may wish to practice with what the click and prerecorded parts will sound like here.
Joyful Shimmering by Chris Thomas - Audio Recording - Missouri All State Video
Some notes on this piece:
In general, bring a spirit of warmth and brightness to the performance. The orchestration is meant to mirror the bright shimmer of the Balinese Gamelan. Approach, and adjust, with a tone that matches the Gamelan pre-record in color and character. Become familiar with the mockup track included with the score.
Pre-Records - Rehearse with stereo playback monitors. An important feature of this piece is that its written for Pre-records and Orchestra. There is a rehearsal version of the pre-record tracks with metronome click. There is a performance version without clicks. The tempo is a fixed q=146. These tracks will be triggered by a member of the orchestra - likely a percussionist.
String Harmonics - Lean into the harmonics. If balance requires (it usually will), please exceed the written dynamic. Harmonics speak softly, bow closer to the bridge to increase clarity and volume. It’s very important these colors to stand out. Ensemble should adjust accordingly.
String Glissandi - Think of the glissandi as glorified portamento. Be sure to land clearly on each pitch, and slide to the next only at the last moment (rather than slide evenly between beats).
Richland High School
1 Academic Ave
Johnstown, PA 15904
Entrance - Use Fine Arts Door.
Concert: February 22, 2025
Time: 11 AM
Cost: $5 Adult, $3 Student. Tickets only available at the door.
Hotel Information
Students will be housed at:
Comfort Inn
455 Theatre Dr, Johnstown, PA 15904
AND
The Hampton Inn 129 Commerce Ct, Johnstown, PA 15904.
An initial rooming list will be sent to directors next week.
Directors are encouraged to utilize:
The Holiday Inn Express on Scalp Avenue.
1440 Scalp Ave, Johnstown, PA 15904
There will be a block of rooms for "PMEA Directors"
Director Folder
All Directors should be emailed access to the director folder by Monday, January 13th. If you have not received access by that point, please email Ben Easler at [email protected] to make sure you are on the email list.
Schedule
Commuter Invoice
Hotel Invoice
Instrumentation List by Piece
Part Clarifications:
-All flutes are responsible for learning the piccolo parts in addition to their part. In this case, the Flute 1 folder will include Flute 2 parts that contain Piccolo sections. The player who will be assigned to each piccolo part will be determined by the audition process. Piccolo is worth 15% of the overall flute score.
-All Winds and Percussion have an “equalizer piece”. This piece will be chosen as part of your audition by the audition committee.
-All violins have a re-audition piece. Violin I chairs number 13, 14, 15, and 16 will re-audition against Violin II chairs number 9, 10, 11, and 12. This re-audition will determine the Violin II positions 9, 10, 11, and 12 for the All State Orchestra.
-Every percussionist auditions on “total percussion.” All percussion part assignments will be made by the percussion audition committee during auditions. Percussionists audition on “total percussion” for advancement to the state orchestra.
-English Horn - English Horn Parts are assigned via the Region Orchestra Meeting to an oboist. This is not part of the oboe audition.
-Bass Clarinet - A student will be added to cover the bass clarinet parts.
-Split parts - For all parts that are split, (Ex Clarinet 1-2 on the same part), you are responsible for playing only your part. Top line - clarinet 1, Bottom line - Clarinet 2, etc.
-For Komm Susser Tod, there are 4 Trombone Parts on one part as well as the Tuba part. Bass trombone should prepare the Trombone 3 and 4 parts.
-Any other questions that come up or corrections may be added to the website above, so please check there first. Remaining questions may be addressed to Ben Easler, Festival Host at [email protected] or Kelly Detwiler, WRO Festival Coordinator at [email protected].
-All students must complete the Arbiter medical form by January 21st .
Program
I - The Montagues and Capulets, from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2.
Komm, süsser Tod by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arr. Stokowski
The Flight To Neverland (From Hook) by John Williams
Imagine Symphony by Chris Thomas - Find out more and listen to this piece here
We will be performing this piece in sync with pre-recorded elements and the video seen at the link above. You may wish to practice with what the click and prerecorded parts will sound like here.
Joyful Shimmering by Chris Thomas - Audio Recording - Missouri All State Video
Some notes on this piece:
In general, bring a spirit of warmth and brightness to the performance. The orchestration is meant to mirror the bright shimmer of the Balinese Gamelan. Approach, and adjust, with a tone that matches the Gamelan pre-record in color and character. Become familiar with the mockup track included with the score.
Pre-Records - Rehearse with stereo playback monitors. An important feature of this piece is that its written for Pre-records and Orchestra. There is a rehearsal version of the pre-record tracks with metronome click. There is a performance version without clicks. The tempo is a fixed q=146. These tracks will be triggered by a member of the orchestra - likely a percussionist.
String Harmonics - Lean into the harmonics. If balance requires (it usually will), please exceed the written dynamic. Harmonics speak softly, bow closer to the bridge to increase clarity and volume. It’s very important these colors to stand out. Ensemble should adjust accordingly.
String Glissandi - Think of the glissandi as glorified portamento. Be sure to land clearly on each pitch, and slide to the next only at the last moment (rather than slide evenly between beats).