Penn Bands, Choirs & Orchestra Earn Gold Ratings & Qualify for ISSMA State Finals

All five of Penn’s Fine Arts music groups competing in the ISSMA Group I qualifier competition this past weekend (April 28 & 29, Chesterton, Indiana) earned a Gold Rating with Distinction and one ensemble also qualified for State Finals for the 16th consecutive year!

Penn’s Choir, Women’s Chorale, Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Symphonic Winds all competed for the 16 Concert Choirs, 8 Treble/Men’s Choirs, 8 Orchestras and 16 Band open spots and the chance to compete in the ISSMA State Finals this coming Saturday, May 6.

The Symphonic Winds, under the direction of Glenn Northern, Chris Paulson and Aaron Griesser, received a Gold Rating with Distinction for their performance and also qualified for State Finals. They will perform at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis at the State Competition.

Penn’s other groups and ensembles received a Gold Rating with Distinction for their performances:

• Penn Concert Choir, under the direction of Andrew Nemeth, Lavon Oke and accompanist Andrew Napolitan
• Penn Women’s Chorale, under the Direction of Lavon Oke, Andrew Nemeth, and accompanist Andrew Napolitan
• Penn Orchestra, under the direction of Anne Tschetter and Elizabeth Cravens

Congratulations to all of these student and teachers for their outstanding achievements!