Audiences got a surprise treat Tuesday night (Nov. 21, 2017) when Penn Principal Sean Galiher walked out on stage to perform with the Orchestra. But what made his performance so memorable is that he didn’t play the violin, flute or clarinet … no, he played the typewriter!!!

The musical piece is called “The Typewriter” written by Leroy Anderson. The typewriter is the focal point of the selection with the key strikes, carriage returns and bell ringing happening in time with the rhythm of the musical score. It took a lot of practice to get the timing just right. Principal Galiher rehearsed with Orchestra Director Anne Tschetter and her class five times, and he also practiced a lot at home using YouTube videos. It was definitely worth all the work … Penn parents and patrons thoroughly enjoyed this one-of-a-kind performance! 

While Principal Galiher never had formal musical training, this experience has encouraged him to pursue his dream of learning to play the guitar. 

Penn High School's Girls Swim Team earned its 100th consecutive victory with a 129-57 victory against Elkhart Central on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

The Penn Boys Team beat Elkhart Central 123-63.

After fighting a close game through three quarters, the Penn Girls Basketball Team took control in the fourth quarter to outscore Warsaw 22-15 and claim a 51-43 victory against the Tigers on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Senior point guard Sara Doi led Penn with 19 points. Freshman Jordyn Smith scored 11 points.

Penn High’s Kingsmen dethroned the IHSAA Football Class 6-A defending State Champion with full force, defeating Carmel, 34-7, on the Greyhounds own field on Friday, Nov. 17. Click here to see the photo gallery from Friday night’s big win.

Coach Cory Yeoman’s Kingsmen advance to the Class 6-A State Championship Game. Penn (12-1) plays Indianapolis Ben Davis (13-0) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

A 72-yard punt by Penn’s Max Chaffee and then a shanked one-yard punt by Carmel flipped the field in the second quarter, and the Kingsmen took advantage. Ryan Whiteman scored on a five-yard run and the Kingsmen grabbed a 7-0 lead.

Jackson Weston picked off a pass with :34 left in the second quarter, and the Kingsmen struck for a 14-0 lead. Ryan Lynch connected with senior Zach Usenick for 14 yards for a Kingsmen TD.

Lynch blasted through the Carmel defense for a 23-yard TD run midway through the third quarter as the Kingsmen surged to a 21-0 lead.

Caden Paquette then stunned the Greyhounds when he intercepted a pass and zoomed 94 yards for a Pick-6, giving Penn a 27-0 lead.

George Ohlson’s 13-yard TD strike from Lynch finished the Kingsmen scoring.

Drew Schneider contributed two interceptions in the Kingsmen victory.

The Penn High School Football Team beat Carmel, 34-7, in the North Semi-state Game on Friday, Nov. 17, to earn a spot in the IHSAA Class 6-A State Championship Game.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

By GARRETT WENZEL

The Penn Kingsmen football team traveled to face the Bulldogs of Crown Point on a frigid night for the IHSAA Football Class 6-A Regional Title on Friday, Nov. 10.

Penn pounced on Crown Point from the start and left the Bulldogs in the cold, earning a 33-3 victory.

The Kingsmen started off hot.

Senior Hunter Whitlow got the Kingsmen on the board with a 1-yard TD run to put the Kingsmen up 7-0.

On the next drive, Ryan Lynch passed to George Ohlson for the Kingsmen TD to put the Kingsmen up 14-0.

Penn expanded its lead to 20-3 when Ryan Lynch flipped a pass to Ryan Whiteman, who sprinted for 64 yards to the end zone.

Senior Zach Usenick then hauled in a pair of TD passes from Lynch to finish off the 33-3 victory.

The Kingsmen have now won 11 in a row and move to 11-1.

Freshman Jordyn Smith scored 27 points to lead the Penn Kingsmen to a 70-28 victory against Bremen on Thursday, Nov. 16.

Sara Doi scored 10 points, Reganne Pate scored 8 points, and Trinity Clinton scored 7 points.

Glenn Northern, who has guided the Penn High School Marching Band to levels of statewide excellence, has been honored for his accomplishments by being named the 2018 Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educator Association Board.

Northern, the Penn Fine Arts & Communications Academy Leader and Marching Kingsmen Band Director, is in his 29th year as an educator and his 17th year the in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.

P-H-M Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker congratulated Northern on the award and said that Northern has played a vital role in elevating Penn’s Music Program to an elite status.

P-H-M has been recognized as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" in the nation by the NAMM Foundation … an honor that Glenn's hard work and leadership has greatly contributed to,” Dr. Thacker stated.

Northern has been the Director of Bands and the Fine Arts & Communications Academy Leader since 2011. He served as Penn’s assistant band director for 10 years, and also taught at Discovery Middle School.

In 2015, the Penn Symphonic Winds (Penn’s advanced concert band) was named the Co-Champion of the ISSMA Concert Band Finals. This still stands as the only ISSMA Championship ever won by a Penn Band.

“I am very honored to be selected by the Indiana Music Educators Association for this award,” Northern said. “However, like many awards of this type, it is the cumulative efforts of many people that make this type of recognition possible. This award also belongs to Murray Weaver, Jeff Carnall, Aaron Griesser, D.J. Landoll, Isaac Brinberg, Heather Baker, Dodi Carnall, Keith Rudolph and the thousands of students and parents who have been a part of the Penn Bands.

“It is the work of all of these people who have created the culture of excellence and the caring environment that have made the Penn Bands such a wonderful organization to be a part of, and to teach,” Northern continued. “I am very honored to accept this award on behalf of everyone involved with the Penn Band.”

Northern’s is also a leader statewide in music education.

In 2015, Northern received the "Outstanding Bandmaster" from the Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and in 2011, he received a "Michiana Outstanding Music Educator" ward from Quinlan & Fabish Music Co. Northern has served two terms as the President of ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association), and is the Past President of the Indiana Bandmasters Association. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for ISSMA and for the Indiana Music Educators Association.

The talents of high school  and middle school musicians will be showcased in the Penn High School Kaleidoscope Concert, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15, and Thursday, Nov. 16.

The two-concert cycle is slated to begin at 7 p.m. each night in the Penn High School Center for Performing Arts.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the concert will feature the combined Penn-Harris-Madison eighth-grade band (comprised of students from Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker). 

The concert will also feature the Penn Advanced Jazz Ensemble, the Penn Symphonic Winds and a stand-still performance by the Penn Marching Kingsmen.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, the Penn Intermediate Jazz Ensemble, Freshmen Intermediate Concert Band, Freshmen Advanced Concert Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band will perform at the Kaleidoscope Concert.

Tickets are $5 in advance ($6 on event night) and can be purchased online at Ticketracker.com.
 

Lake Central held off Penn to hand the Kingsmen their first loss of the Girls Basketball season, 51-43, on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Jordyn Smith led Penn with 14 points.

Tia Chambers scored 11 points.

Trinity Clinton scored nine points.