Trevor Gladin, a senior at Cranberry High School, holds his All-State Festival folder of music that he must learn in order to compete in the PMEA All State Choir Festival. (By Joe Gunn/Student contributor)
By JENNA SEIGWORTH
Student contributor
For the first time in more than eight years, a student from Cranberry High School has qualified to participate in the PMEA All State Choir Festival.
Trevor Gladin, a senior at CHS, chaired fourth place at the Regional Choir Festival held Saturday, Feb. 29, in the Bass Two Section and earned himself a chance to sing in the All State Competition.
When asked how this accomplishment made him feel, Gladin responded, “It feels really good. Our community has been so supportive throughout this entire process.”
To get to where he is now, Gladin participated in the District Choir competition, where he auditioned with two out of eight choral pieces, one foreign language and one classical choral piece, that he learned before the festival. There, he chaired sixth and was then able to move on to the Regional Choir Festival. Although he has participated in Districts once before, this was his first time qualifying to go on to Regionals.
He was given nine new pieces to learn for the Regional Choir. He was given six weeks to prepare for the competition. At Regionals, he auditioned with two foreign language pieces.
To qualify for All State, singers must chair in the top four, a feat that has not been done by a Cranberry student in more than eight years. With hard work, Gladin was able to place fourth and earn himself a spot at the All State Competition.
Preston Yoder, the choir teacher at Cranberry High School and Trevor’s mentor for the competition, was beaming with pride when asked him about Gladin’s success.
“It’s extremely exciting and satisfying for him! I can remember him specifically from seventh grade and years past always being a hard worker and never complaining,” Yoder said. “He truly deserves this experience and all that it has to offer.”
For those who have never been to a PMEA Festival, Gladin was adamant in communicating the impact that it could have on someone.
“To put it in short, the amount of music-driven people around here is really put into perspective at a festival. You get more of an idea of what the talent is and how abundant it is at a festival. You learn more about the genres and styles of music that is out there than you ever would in a high school choir. It’s all about the diversity of people and music.”
The All State Festival will begin in the Poconos on April 22. Participants will have four days to rehearse. The concert will occur on April 25.
Gladin would have to chair in the top ten of the Bass Twos to qualify for the All East competition. However, unlike Regionals or Districts, auditioning for chairs occurs weeks before the festival. Gladin will find out which two pieces he’s auditioning with on March 16, and send in his video audition by March 20. He will know his chairing the following week, and then continue to prepare for the concert in the following month.
Gladin notes that he would like to thank Yoder, all of his friends, his parents, and Principal Ritt Smith for all of their support.
Jenna Seigworth and Joe Gunn are students at Cranberry High School and members of Cranberry Chronicles, the school’s journalism/publications class.
