MCSD Music Department
Enhancing students through authentic artistic expression
Hello!
Make sure to SCROLL down to find out what's happening MUSICALLY in MCSD!!!
The MCSD Music Department Staff
John J. Brackbill
Beginning Band Director;
Instructional Facilitator for Music, K-12
Stpehanie Magaro
7/8 Choir Director;
5/6 Choir Director;
7th Grade General Music
Ally Bartlett
7/8 Orchestra Director;
5/6 Orchestra Director;
Karl Segletes
5th-6th Grade General Music;
MS Band Asst. Director
Alex Schweizer
7/8 Band Director;
5/6 Band Director;
8th Grade General Music
Alden Hoke
Beginning Strings/Band
Curriculum
Music Opportunities in MCSD
At the middle school level (grades 5-8), students have the opportunity to elect participation in applied music ensembles--band, chorus, and orchestra--which meet twice during a 6-day cycle. Other opportunities at the middle school level include select performance ensembles such as jazz band and meistersingers, as well as participation in honor festivals including LLMEA MS County Orchestra, LLMEA MS County Band and PMEA District 7 Songfest.
At the high school level (grades 9-12), students have the opportunity to elect courses that will fulfill their humanities graduation requirement--Music Technology, Music Theater, Arts Connections--as well as applied ensembles such as Concert Band, Concert Choir and Orchestra. Additional elective courses include Music Theory and AP Music Theory; additional applied ensemble opportunities include Chansodié (vocal ensemble), Jazz Band (extra-curricular) and Marching Band (extra-curricular). Students also have the opportunity to audition and participate in honors festivals include LLMEA Band, Jazz Band, Chorus and Orchestra, PMEA District 7 Band, Jazz Band, Chorus and Orchestra, PMEA Region V Band, Chorus and Orchestra, and PMEA All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra. Some students have also successfully auditioned for NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles.
Regardless of the educational setting, the music teachers of MCSD strive to deliver an engaging, vibrant music curriculum that will enable students to both create and respond to music in meaningful ways, and prepare them for a lifetime of successful and continuing interactions with music, both actively and passively.
Department Happenings
Middle School Choral Students Participate in Honor Festival
MCMS was represented by 7th graders Katelynn Haugh, Ava Graff, Gianna Reed and Nick Margerum, and 8th graders Rachel Ruffner, Cole Lubeskie and Heidi Enterline. Performers independently prepared a varied repertoire and came together for an intense music making experience!
Orchestra Students in the LVC Honors Orchestra
The musicians rehearsed together for a total of 7 hours and performed in concert Saturday evening in Blair Music Center. We are thankful for the opportunity to participate in this festival and proud that these learners represented the Manheim Central Music Department with excellence. Bravo!
Beginning Instrumentalists Use Technology to Make Better Music
Students are learning to think critically, be problem-finders, problem-solvers, and are turning STEM into STEAM!
Marching Barons Win Silver Medal at Cavalcade of Bands Grand Championships... again!
The Marching Barons have been medalists 7 out of the last 11 years at Cavalcade Grand Championships.
Congratulations to members of the Marching Barons on a great season of hard work and growth!
Silver Medalists! High Music! Most Improved!
Marching Barons in Motion
All Together Now
Enrichment Time at Doe Run Offer Students Additional Music Opportunities
Mr. Hoke meets with a group of students interested in group singing. During their time together, they work on vocal warm-ups, breathing techniques and finding their best singing voices.
Mrs. Wagner works with the "Doe Run Rattlers," a self-named Orff instrument ensemble. During enrichment they learn proper playing technique, improvise their own melodies on the xylophone and collaborate to compose and play multi-layered Orff instrument arrangements.
Doe Run Group Singing Enrichment
Doe Run Rattlers
Middle School Student Experiences "Sweet Soundsations"
Choral Students Selected for 2020 Honors Festivals!
Megan Stitzel
Bella Harrill
Maddie Kreider
Sarah Rhodes
Katie Pilsner
Audrey Cressler
Ben Gingrich
Additionally, the following students auditioned and qualified for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Choir:
Megan Stitzel
Bella Harrill
Sarah Rhodes
Audrey Cressler
Ben Gingrich
PMEA District 7 includes school districts from Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Adams, Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry and Franklin counties.
For both festivals, the students were part of hundreds from south central Pennsylvania who auditioned and competed for the opportunity to be a part of these ensembles.
Congratulations!
Welcome New Member to the MCSD Music Department!
Alicia is a 2006 graduate of Millersville University and a 2018 graduate of Lebanon Valley College, earning a Master's Degree in Music Education. Prior to her arrival at Manheim, Alicia spent 8 years teaching elementary general music, band, chorus and orchestra in the School District of Lancaster. Most recently, she spent 5 years at home raising a son Iain, and twins Galen and Ainsley. During that time, she also maintained a private teaching studio of approximately 30 students and became certified in Musikgarten early childhood music, offering early childhood music classes in the Manheim and Ephrata areas.
We wish her the best as she begins the next chapter in her teaching career!
MCSD Bands Premiere "Chasing Mercury"
Dr. Weller composed "Chasing Mercury" for the combined 7/8 and High School Bands on a commission funded by a grant from MCFEE. The students in both bands were able to gain an acute understanding of what goes into composing a piece of music for a large ensemble, choices a composer has to make about what instruments should play what parts, the flow and sequence of musical ideas, etc. through detailed workshop and clinic sessions with him.
The ability for performing musicians to have such a deep understanding of a piece of music, and learn directly from its composer, not only leads to a substantially more informed performance, but incredible musical growth for the performers.
Recently, Dr. Weller informed us that "Chasing Mercury" will by published by Carl Fischer Music, Inc., ensuring that concerts band everywhere have the opportunity to experience this wonderful work in perpetuity. Our commission information accompany every copy of the work!
Amazingly, the first time bands combined to play the piece was at the first premier performance!
Be sure to take a look at the pictures below and video of BOTH performances! (Video courtesy of Clearfish Studio)
Rehearsing "Chasing Mercury"
Rehearsing "Chasing Mercury"
Rehearsing "Chasing Mercury"
Manheim Momentum Percussion Ensembles Performs; Premiers a Student Composition
This year, in addition to performances at district concerts in April and May, Momentum was able to branch out and perform at two additional events. At the Manheim Township Percussion Exchange Concert on April 24, Momentum performed alongside percussion ensembles from Manheim Township, Lancaster Catholic and Ephrata High Schools, giving them the opportunity to interact with their peers from other schools and explore additional percussion repertoire.
On Saturday, April 27 Momentum traveled to Messiah College to perform for and work with some of the top percussionists and percussion clinicians in the country at the Percussive Arts Society's Pennsylvania Day of Percussion.
At both of these performances as well as spring concerts in our district, Momentum premiered "Pan Dulce," a composition by Manheim Central sophomore and Momentum member, David Graff. Congratulations, David!
Manheim Momentum and the Manheim Central Band Program would like to graciously thank MCFEE for their continued support; the explosive growth of the programs and our students, and the ability to perform at these events would not be possible without them!
Manheim Momentum
Manheim Momentum
Marching Barons Reveal 2019 Show Theme, New Logo
The 2019 Marching Barons field show will be titled "The Sunken Cathedral," drawing on various legends about a great cathedral in a doomed, sunken city. The show will feature classical music from composers such as impressionist Claude Debussy and opera composer Richard Wagner, as well as modern wind band composers David Maslanka and John Mackey.
The Marching Barons also debuted a new organizational logo, updating the original logo that was created almost 10 years ago. You can check out the theme logo, new organizational logo and the theme reveal video below!
The Sunken Cathedral
The New Marching Barons Logo
Middle School and High School Bands will Premier Newly Commissioned Work This Spring
This year, again with support from MCFEE, the COMBINED 7/8 and high school concert bands have commissioned and will premier a new work for concert band from composer Travis J. Weller, entitled "Chasing Mercury."
Both bands are excited to begin working on the piece in rehearsal and with the composer. The piece will be world-premiered at the 7/8 and high school spring concerts in May.
Travis J. Weller, Composer and Educator
Marching Barons Win Silver Medal at Cavalcade of Bands Grand Championships
The Marching Barons have been medalists 6 out of the last 10 years at Cavalcade Grand Championships.
Congratulations to members of the Marching Barons on a great season of hard work and growth!
Cavalcade of Bands Grand Championships Award Ceremony
Manheim Central Music Department Hosts PMEA District 7 Fall In-Service Conference
The day began with an incredible concert played by the Mansfield University Wind Ensemble. Some of the sessions offered included Quick Cello Fixes, Effective and Artistic Conducting, Dancing Through the Curriculum, Practical Application of Vocal Exercises, Teaching Timpani from the Podium, and Forms of Anxiety: Using Neuroscience.
All sessions were targeted at different areas of music education: band, choir, orchestra, general music, music technology, and special education. The one-day conference was well attended and proved to be a valuable source of knowledge, resources, and information, all shared by esteemed music educators. The annual in-service day is a great opportunity for practicing music educators to re-ignite passion and refocus energy by learning from expert colleagues in our field.
PMEA would like to thank Manheim Central School District and the middle school for hosting and for the use of the facilities and the support of the administration!
Secondary Bands Website Launched
Information about philosophy, schedule, initiatives, social media presence, etc., can all be found on the website.
Welcome New Members of the MCSD Music Department!
Megan is homegrown--a 2013 graduate of Manheim Central High School and a 2017 graduate of Cairn University in Philadelphia, PA. Karl is a 2018 graduate of Gettysburg College.
We wish them the best as they begin their teaching careers!
Clinics and Composition Initiatives in High School Band
Exciting things are happening in the high school band program! The reigning Cavalcade of Bands Patriot ‘A’ Champion Marching Barons are continuing to experience growth and are 117 members strong—the largest they have been in more than a decade! To convey the story of this year’s theme show, Pompeii, the Marching Barons are getting an education in music ranging from Baroque opera of the 1600’s to original wind band music and modern movie scores! The marching band has performed well in its first two competitions, garnering a High Percussion award at the Conestoga Valley Cavalcade of Bands Show on September 23. The Marching Barons will perform in exhibition on October 28 as they host a show here at Manheim Central, and will perform at the New Oxford Cavalcade of Bands show on Saturday, November 4, and the Cavalcade of Bands Patriot Division Grand Championships at J. Birney Crum stadium in Allentown on Sunday, November 12.
On October 2, the high school concert band students had the opportunity to experience a performance and Q&A session with some members on the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band—the most highly regard service band in America—right in our own auditorium! The Marine Band members performed selections as a woodwind quintet (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, horn), explained the music in their performance, discussed both their path to becoming a professional musician and their roles and responsibilities as a professional musician and member of the Marine Band. It was a great experience for our students to see musicians who play their same instruments, at such a high level of virtuosity, and understand the discipline, practice and rigor that goes into both technical facility and musicianship. The students, clearly impressed, asked many thoughtful questions that will hopefully drive their own continued pursuit of musical excellence.
Additionally, through the generous auspices of McFEE, the high school concert band has been able to commission a brand new musical work, written specifically for our band, by Dr. Jim Colonna, a local composer of high standing in the wind band world, and Director of Bands at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA. His music has been performed at many honors band festivals across the country, prestigious college ensembles such as the Hartt Wind Ensemble and professional ensembles, including the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides. Dr. Colonna has communicated with the band throughout his writing process to give them a unique insight on composing, and will continue to workshop the piece with the band as they rehearse and practice, giving them the additional, unique experience of actually working with the composer of a piece in their repertoire. The Manheim Central High School Concert Band will have the honor of WORLD PREMIERING the piece at the high school spring concert, Thursday May 15, 2018.
Marine Band Musician Clinic
Newly Commissioned Wind Band Work
Jim Colonna, Composer and Educator
MCMS To Host PMEA District 7 Songfest
Students will come together during the morning and afternoon to rehearse a diverse repertoire of music in preparation for a 4pm concert.
The combined choir will be rehearsed and directed by guest conductor Ryan Beeken. Beeken proudly serves as Director of Choral Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he conducts the University Chorale, Chorus, and Chamber Singers and teaches graduate and undergraduate choral conducting. Beeken also serves as Artistic Director for the Blair Concert Chorale, whose mission includes fostering a growing appreciation of quality choral music for the population of south central Pennsylvania. He received Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Drake University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.
Beeken's choirs have performed at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and have been invited to perform for state and regional conferences for the National Association for Music Education. A frequent clinician and festival director, Beeken is regularly engaged as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States; since 2013, his engagements include more than 30 All-States and Honor Choirs in twelve states and many invited presentations for symposia across the United States and in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
He has served on the executive committee of the American Choral Directors Association at both the state and regional level and is currently serving as the District 3 President-Elect for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Prior to his appointment at IUP, Beeken taught at Michigan State University, where he conducted the Women's Glee Club. Also, while residing in Des Moines, Iowa, he directed the Drake Chorale at Drake University. He also taught elementary, middle school, and high school music for sixteen years, most recently serving as Director of Vocal Music for Waukee Schools in suburban Des Moines where he lead a program of over 300 students and twelve ensembles to national distinction.
Tickets for the 4pm concert on November 18 will $3 and sold at the door.
Ryan Beeken
Contact Information
Email: brackbillj@manheimcentral.org
Location: Manheim, PA, United States
Phone: 717 664 8515