Montco and Bucks student music "all stars" play at Spring-Ford

A formidable ensemble of young musical talent was arrayed on the auditorium stage at Spring-Ford High School Saturday afternoon as the PMEA District 11 Band played its 2011 festival concert.

Comprising 137 student musicians from 36 high schools in Montgomery and Bucks counties, the PMEA District 11 Band was assembled through a series of competitive auditions.

Upper Dublin was represented by Justin Gaskey, who plays the french horn.

Under the direction of Spring-Ford High School musical director John E. Eckstine Jr., the orchestra opened the performance by playing the national anthem and a musical salute to the PMEA.

Eckstine then yielded the conductor's baton to guest conductor Dr. Deborah Sheldon, professor and chair of the Boyer College of Music & Dance at Temple University.

Sheldon praised the student musicians, many of whom were dressed in the brightly colored marching band uniforms of their home schools.  They had been practicing as a unified orchestra at Spring-Ford High School since Thursday morning.

Sheldon said the students had been "mature, lovely, good-humored, just great kids."

"They have stepped up to the plate and worked very hard," Sheldon said.

Sheldon concluded her remarks with an appeal to the public to support music education in schools.

"I don't have to tell you that times are tough right now. Do not let music education die," Sheldon said to loud applause.

The performance included five contemporary classical compositions: "Sketches on a Tudor Psalm" by Fisher Tull, "Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away" by Percy Aldridge Grainger, "Elegy for a Young American" by Ronald Lo Presti, "Symphony No. 2" by Frank Tichelli, and "Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!" by Eric Whitacre.