The Tri-State Music Festival is back again.
This year, the festival’s concerts fall on Feb. 24 and 25. On Feb. 24, music students of D’Angelo Department of Music will perform in  the Prism Concert at 8 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
The Tri-State Music Festival is a valuable experience for both college and high school musicians, and both groups can gain experience and inspiration by participating in the festival.
This year’s clinician will be Birch Browning, Ph.D. During the festival, faculty and the guest clinician present a number of seminars to students and visiting directors.
On Feb. 25, the high school honors band will present their concert at 2 p.m. in the PAC. “The Tri-State Honor Band is a three-day music festival that is designed to cater to excellent high school band musicians through exposure to outstanding clinicians and varied repertoire,” said Scott Meier, Ph.D., associate professor of saxophone and music education and head of the Tri-State Music Festival.
“The high school students join us on campus to rehearse for three days before the performance.”
“The high school ensemble ranges in size between 65-90 students from as many as 15 schools,” Meier said.
“Next year, the festival will be in its seventeenth year,” Meier said.
Other Mercyhurst students and members of the surrounding community can also benefit from the festival by enjoying the two concerts presented by the college and high school bands, both of which are free and open to the public.
Mercyhurst music students help out and gain valuable teaching experience by auditioning the high school students, observing rehearsals and staffing events at the hotel.
Given the large number of high school participants every year, the music students certainly have their hands full.
In the past, they have benefited from the teaching and conducting skills of Eddie Smith, Ph.D., Keith Kaiser, Ph.D., Mark Fonder,  Ph.D., Dale Misenhelter, Ph.D., Gary Ciepluch, Ph.D., Birch Browning, Ph.D., Ricky Fleming, Ph.D., and Joseph Parisi , Ph.D.