UPPER POTTSGROVE PA – For the second time in six years, Pottsgrove Middle School will serve as host Friday (Feb. 23, 2024) to about 200 talented orchestral students in Montgomery and Bucks counties.
The specially selected and honored musicians in grades 5-9 will represent their 14 school districts in this year’s String Fest event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association (PMEA) District 11. They’ll spend their day learning and working together, and then perform in concert.
The concert is free to attend and open to the public, and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the middle school, 1351 N. Hanover St. Its auditorium offers plenty of seating and good acoustics. The location is accessible to all and provides abundant parking.
Also for the second time, Pottsgrove School District orchestra directors William Einhorn and Kristen Hyde have worked behind the scenes to help organize and coordinate the many facets of the event.
Two guest conductors will separately lead the students. Christopher Cinquini of Boyertown will conduct the middle school orchestra, and James Nackley of York PA will conduct the elementary orchestra.
One of many concerts across the region
String Fest at Pottsgrove is one of 10 band, choir, orchestra, songfest, and state conference performances planned by PMEA across the region from Jan. 10 through April 20. Students and music instructors within their school districts have spent considerable time and effort since shortly after schools opened to perfect performances and qualify for auditions to be accepted for the concerts.
The association is a statewide, nonprofit organization of more than 4,000 members, “dedicated to promoting the musical development of all Pennsylvanians.” It includes those engaged in music instruction at all levels, from preschool through college and university, as well as those in the music industry, merchandising, and publishing.
Photo from the 2023 String Fest performance provided to Travels With The Post by PMEA District 11
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