April 16, 2009
The Jazz band's solid performance earned them the championship, three additional group awards, and three Outstanding Soloist awards.
March 12, 2009
"... it provides [students] a very insightful experience that they can transfer into their own personal lives." - Mr. Mazzeo on Wayne Bergeron's appearance with the Concert Jazz Band
Thanksgiving Day Parade 2008
Celebrating 25 years headlining Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pennsbury Marching Band was featured on 6 ABC - Philadelphia.
November 2008
October 11, 2008
Pennsbury held its Eighth Annual Marching Band Festival on Saturday night and hosted five area bands: Cherry Hill East, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Neshaminy, and William Tennent. Council Rock North received six of the seven caption awards for best drum major, woodwind section, brass section, percussion section, marching, and music. William Tennent received the best color guard award.
Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Neshaminy, and William Tennent were awarded a superior rating, and Cherry Hill East earned an outstanding rating. Pennsbury, as host, did not compete.
The Pennsbury Marching Band will participate in William Tennent's Bandorama on October 18 and Neshaminy's Kaleidoscope of Bands on October 25.
September 11, 2008
Marching Band Fine-Tunes Its Performance at Camp
"It's the common challenges that make them recognize their successes even more because they are doing it together as a team. It is much like a sport." - Booster President Karen Fox
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Staff Editor
Pennsbury High School marching band members - all 117 of them - have been limbering up, stepping to the beat and making music during the annual band camp, held for two weeks at Falcon Field in hairless Hills. The camp ran from August 18 to 29.
It was "very productive," explained Frank Mazzeo, who is wearing an additional hat now that he has been promoted to instrumental music coordinator for the entire school district. Previously, Mazzeo was director of bands.
"The program means a lot to me and I'm really happy to be able to do this for the district," Mazzeo said. "Instead of being in charge of 200 kids, I now have about 1,400!"
Last year, he led his award-winning marching band to Hong Kong for several momentous performances.
On Friday, Aug. 29, the band played at the Pennsbury Falcons football game. All the music revolved around stars, including "Starry, Starry Night", which was popularized by Don McLean in the 1970s; and the classic Disney tune, "When You Wish upon a Star."
The Falcons won by one point against Archbishop Ryan. Just before kick off, there was an officer-pinning ceremony for the band. "The next group steps up and assumes the responsibility," Mazzeo explained.
This year, Mazzeo said, the band will feature "outstanding people." The line up of soloists include: Ben Lupinacci on trombone, Rich Beem on trumpet, Laura Metzler on mellophone (marching French horn) and Carrie Oecshle, color guard captain. According to Mazzeo, this is the second year soloists have been part of the program- Also, there will be a duet with Amy Lynes and Katherine Hangeland.
"This year, w& have an awesome group of kids," he added. Jonah Lustig is drum major. Allie LeCavalier is assistant drum major. Matt Adler is band captain. Pam Carmasine is drum captain. In addition, Mazzeo noted two outstanding seniors are Rob Algazi and Kyle Ennis.
Most marching bands do 50 sets of drills," Mazzeo maintained. "A set of drills is when they hold a formation. They move around and set a formation. Our show has 70 sets of drills. Pennsbury goes on the high side. We were at 60 last year."
"They're doing some tremendous things with the program," Mazzeo said about the band members.
"They're really stepping up. It's exciting to be a part of it every year. You're sad to see last year's seniors go, but the new seniors just seem to step it up every time."
Allison LeCavalier, 17, of Yardley, is assistant drum major and plays tenor saxophone. She wants to study chemistry and go into the medical field.
"It's really cool," she said about band camp. "It's nice to get to know the freshmen and just see how everything's progressed in the four years I've been in the band."
Allison said she has "met some of my best friends in band because we spend so much time on the bus together or on the field. It's just a different kind of friendship because you know these people in a different capacity than anyone else."
Jonah Lustig, 17, of Yardley, is drum major. Normally, he plays the drums, but as drum major, he leads the band. Jonah wants to either become a lawyer or a politician.
During a football game, Jonah carries a mace, which is a pole the drum major uses to guide the band during parades. He twirls the mace, flips it and catches it.
"I spent a lot of time practicing and getting advice from former drum majors," he said. Jonah claimed he is "very excited for the year. I think we have great, great music and a great drill. We'll have an unbelievable season."
Matt Adler, 17, of Yardley, is band captain. He plans to become an architect.
Adler commands respect in uniform because of his 'towering' height. Normally, he's 6' 3" tall, but with his special marching band hat, he looks more like he is 6' 10" tall.
Being in marching band has taught him to be a leader "I definitely feel as though it's a privilege to be in this position," he said. "I get to see all these kids progress."
"As a leader, Matt said, "It definitely pushes me to work harder as I see these kids work as well as they do." In the band, he plays four drums, which are called either 'tenors' or 'quads.' According to Matt, marching band "works you hard. It really tests your work ethic. I think it makes you more responsible and a more focused individual because of how disciplined each of us need to be."
Karen Fox, president of the Pennsbury Instrumental Music Band Boosters, described the band camp as both a physical challenge and a social event. "Back to when they were freshman, they got a network of acquaintances and friends that made the transition to high school so much easier," she said. "Kids reconnect with each other.
"They share a common goal and challenges," Fox continued. "It's the common challenges that make them recognize their successes even more because they are doing it together as a team. It is much like a sport."
August 30, 2008
August 20, 2008
The Marching Band was on Philadelphia's "NBC 10! Show"
April 2008
"Disney on Stage" Magazine Honors Marching Band
March 19, 2008
Lower Makefield Formally Honors Marching & Concert Jazz Bands
August 30, 2008
April 17, 2008
Pennsbury marches through Hong Kong
The student musicians performed before 40,000 people at Hong Kong Stadium. The tournament was broadcast to more than 50 million viewers.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Staff Editor
The buses left New York at 10:45 p.m. and by 12:15 am.; they arrived back at Pennsbury High School escorted by police and the fire department.
"When the kids saw the police and fire trucks were for them, it was a great way to end a perfect trip," said Dave Bowman, co-principal of Pennsbury High School, who went along on the trip to Hong Kong.
Members of the Pennsbury High School Marching Band experienced a chance of a lifetime during their Hong Kong visit from March 21 to April 1.
Pennsbury performed during the half-time entertainment at the Hong Kong Sevens International Rugby Tournament, which is known as "Asia's Super Bowl." The student musicians performed before 40,000 people at Hong Kong Stadium. The tournament was broadcast to more than 50 million viewers.
The students also performed at Hong Kong High School, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Chinese Cultural Center, where the marching band participated in a concert setting at Hong Kong Harbor.
The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band (PCJB), which also made the Hong Kong trip, performed before a huge crowd on the Avenue of the Stars in which the backdrop was the scenic harbor. The PCJB also gave a concert at Ocean Park, which is similar to Sea World in Florida.
Frank Mazzeo, who has been with Pennsbury school district for 22 years, is director of the marching band. "I would love to go back just to enjoy Hong Kong without the responsibility of 160 people," he joked.
Mazzeo assembled five marching band members to talk with the Yardley News about Hong Kong. They shared their impressions and their feelings about the tip.
Tyler Mangiaracina (percussion), 15, is a 10th-grader. "It seemed like everything was different. It .was really, really different to see their culture and the differences between theirs and ours in a good way..."
About performing before such a big audience, Tyler said, "There's nothing you can do to prepare yourself for that many people."
Zachary Greenfield (trumpet), 15, is in 10th grade. "We saw the city of Hong Kong itself and we also went to a fishing village, which was very interesting. It was like you would see in National Geographic. It was incredible."
Michelle Laraia (flute), 17, is an 11th-grader. "This was my first time traveling and the whole trip was just an awesome experience." She said Hong Kong "reminded her of a city like New York City. They don't really stand out much different than us."
About the Kong Kong stadium, she said, "I was not expecting how big it was." Chad Willard (percussion), 16, is in 10th grade. "I learned a lot about the people and the culture the way they eat with chopsticks. They eat a lot of seafood and the Chinese food is not like the Chinese food we have here, which is really surprising to me."
About meeting students at Hong Kong High School, Willard said, "They're a lot like us. They have a fun time playing their instruments. They are very hard working."
John Bugay (baritone horn), 17, is in 12th grade. "It was amazing. At first, I was in shock about how many people would be. watching us. Then I used that nervousness and anxiousness to my advantage. I thought I performed a really good show."
Mazzeo said, "We drove the buses around the stadium. There was silence in my bus. The kids were amazed by how many people were there.. .When we came out of the tunnel onto the field that was weird. [The tunnel] brings you right on the field."
At Hong Kong High School, the two marching bands knew the same Sousa songs and arrangements, which amazed Mazzeo. "We combined the bands and played them together." The students had lunch together. "We tried to teach them American football," Mazzeo said. It was Pennsbury vs. Hong Kong. "We tried football, and then we tried rugby. It was like the craziest game I have ever played."
Mazzeo said his group took about 50 Pennsbury T-shirts for the Hong Kong students. "We did a concert at the Chinese Cultural Center and all the kids showed up in those shirts to come and see us."
Friendships were made with the Hong Kong students. "When we were leaving, they were waving and throwing kisses." The students exchanged e-mail addresses.
Mazzeo said what the students got out of the trip was "just realizing what it's like on the other side of the world."
Just playing music with the Hong Kong students was an experience in itself. "Music is an international language. It breaks down the barriers of communication, It gave students on the other side of the world a chance to relate and bond," Mazzeo said.
Meanwhile, co-principal Bowman said, "It was a pleasure traveling to Hong Kong with our students and staff. It was personally meaningful to me to get to know the students and the adults who traveled on the trip, to watch the students perform and significantly exceed our expectations. They were truly ambassadors of Pennsbury, Pennsylvania and the U.S.
"It's chilling. We're so proud of them and we appreciate the hard work by our band directors and are so thankful for the opportunity that was supported by the Pennsbury school district and the entire community," Bowman said.
The Pennsbury Band Boosters will host their 2nd Annual Golf n' Jazz Outing at the Makefield Highlands Golf Course in Lower Makefield Township on Thursday, May 15.
The 41st Annual Jazz at Pennsbury will take place at the Pennsbury High School East auditorium that evening at 6 p.m. Golfers and non-golfers are all invited to attend.
March 13, 2008
"I'm expecting this is going to be a trip of a lifetime and I have so many expectations.. .I never thought I would have the opportunity to do anything like this." - Adam Greenfield on the band's trip to Hong Kong
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Staff Editor
If they could, they would march to China - instruments in hand.
Exhilarated and enthusiastic, members of the Pennsbury High School Marching Band will have the chance of a lifetime during a Tour of Hong Kong. A total of 160 students, parents and faculty will leave Friday, March 21.
The question is: Will any them really sleep on the airplane? Having fun is a major part of what it's all about. Four musicians sat down with Frank Mazzeo, band director, to talk about the trip with the Yardley News.
Adam Greenfield, 15, plays the tenor saxophone and the clarinet. "I'm expecting this is going to be a trip of a lifetime and I have so many expectations.. .I never thought I would have the opportunity to do anything like this." Adam sold candy bars and helped at car washes
raise funds. "We washed many cars!"
Being in the marching band "has helped me in a lot of ways: to be more organized and regimented."
Chad Willard, 16, plays base drum in the marching band. "I'm expecting to have a lot of fun, but at the same time learn and experience another culture." He said taking a trip to Hong Kong never crossed his mind "- not with all our troop of friends."
Marching band has helped him be "more disciplined and make a lot of new friends" since he was new to the school.
Chad had help raising money for the trip. "We know a hairdresser, who sells candy for us. She put it in her shop."
Hannah Gibbons, 15, plays the flute. "I expect to have an amazing time doing something that I never thought I'd get this opportunity. Going to Hong Kong is not something people do every day at my age.
"Being in the band has helped me become more organized and disciplined. I was new to the school, too. I knew absolutely no one and now my best friends are in the marching band." To raise funds, Hannah sold M & M's and Avon.
Logan Junkins, 16, plays the trumpet. "There's been a big hype about this trip. I am actually doing a graduation project on the trip and the band itself.
"I never thought I'd be playing with such a great group of musicians or playing for such a large group of people."
For Logan, being in the marching band has "helped me meet a lot of new friends. Like Hannah, I was new to the school district. Having such a big school, it was nice having people you know get you to class."
Raising money was not a problem for him. "My mom used to be an Avon lady. So, she mostly sold Avon to everybody."
Mazzeo and his students are celebrating in more ways than one. Not only are they going to perform half way across the world in a huge arena, but the cost of the trip is less intimidating for students since a very successful whirlwind of fundraising activities. Everything from candy bars, Avon products and car washes helped ring in the cash.
The trip costs $3,250 per student.
"The Pennsbury High School Marching Band has successfully raised the money - over half-a-million dollars for their Tour of Hong Kong," said Mazzeo.
"The funds came many different ways," Mazzeo pointed out. "The lion's share of the funds was raised by the students directly through sales within the community. "There were a few corporate donations of which the Pennsbury teachers union was the second largest 'corporate' or 'semi-corporate' donation," Mazzeo said. "There were over a dozen teachers, administrators, alumni, alumni parents and staff members who directly supported specific students, who were having a difficult time raising money."
The "Long Orange Line" will perform on Avenue of the Stars, The Chinese Cultural Center, and a parade down Main Street USA in Hong Kong Disneyland and at the Hong Kong Sevens International Rugby Tournament. Pennsbury will have the half-time entertainment at "Asia's Super bowl" where the student musicians will perform in front of 40,000 people live at Hong Kong Stadium and to over 50 million people via television.
The marching band will perform the field show, which was done throughout the year. There will be Sousa marches and a Disney medley for parades. The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band (PCJB) will perform Thad Jones music, Channel One Suite and Softly as I Leave You. In addition to performing, the group will see the sights, including the China Sea, Avenue of the Stars, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Harbor, three monasteries, and two museums, Stanley Market, Tao Fishing Village and Symphony of Lights. They will ride in Sam pan boats.
Pennsbury band members will meet up with the Hong Kong High School Marching Band. Mazzeo said a representative of the band said, "We have the largest marching band in Hong Kong. We have 40 members." He asked how many Pennsbury has. "I said 125!"
Mazzeo, who has been with Pennsbury school district for 22 years, said. The Hong Kong project is the biggest venture for him yet. "It's the biggest because of how big the audience is and how much money was raised."
Magnitude of the trip aside, Mazzeo stated, "There's additionally learning that comes into that process. They learn there's a cost for things. They realize the hard work that goes into something like this. They worked hard to raise the money."
Because of the trip, there have been more band rehearsals. Sometimes rehearsals will last four to five hours.
The band will arrive back home in the early hours of the morning on April 1.
March 1, 2008
Pennsbury Marching Band Set for Hong Kong Trip
By MANASEE WAGH
COURIER TIMES
It took more than 18 months but they did it.
The musicians and supporters of the Pennsbury High School marching band have raised more than $500,000 Now they are ready to use the cash to fly halfway across the world to perform in Hong Kong later this month.
The band will perform in a parade in Hong Kong Disneyland, at the Hong Kong Sevens international rugby tournament, and other venues.
While the Pennsbury Instrumental Music Boosters and community groups made huge strides ward raising funds for the trip, the musicians did the lion's share of the work.
Wes Miller is a senior who got a job this past June, busing tables at a pizza restaurant.
"I live my life on tips. Everything I'd make would go to the band trip," the trombone player said. He made $3,500, and his family pitched In, too.
Gabby Mascio, a senior who plays clarinet, decided that raising
money for the trip had to take priority over going to the movies, hanging out with friends or reading a good book. So she got a job as a life guard art Sesame Place to make sure she had enough money for the coveted 12-day journey.
"we worked really hard to raise the money" she said.
Selling candy and other food was a big part of students fundraising efforts. Several said that selling boxes of treats was a to make at least a few dollars.
Senior Sawyer Bernath, a trumpet player, should know. He got all his money from selling fruit snacks. In fact, he's been carrying around a big box of them like an extra appendage for the past year and a half.
"I figured if I sold enough, I'd get there," he said. "So far, I made $600, probably."
It also helped that his parents are friends with a hairdresser who keeps a box of the snacks to sell to her customers.
Help from local patrons so important, said Frank Mazzeo, the band director.
"I really want to thank the community. The money the kids fund raised truly came from the community."
The Pennsbury Education Association and a local bank provided some funds. And area residents sponsored band members for golf tournaments and walkathons in which they walked up to 10 miles.
Nearby businesses like Chick-fil-A, Rita's Water Ice and Morrisville Lanes designated special days on which they donated 10 percent to 15 percent of what they made to Pennsbury's band.
Those are a few ways the local public has helped the band make its dreams of travel a reality. The band members and their chaperones, 170 in all, will take off for Hong Kong March 21 and be back April 1.
"You can say you support and love the band," Mazzeo said. "But this is really putting your money where your mouth is."
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com.
January 24, 2008
PHS senior wins competition; to perform at Kimmel Center
"She is one of the hardest working students we have ever had. The only thing better than her playing is her positive personality."
- Frank Mazzeo about Ananthi Rajamoorthi
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Staff Editor
Senior clarinetist Ananthi Rajamoorthi, a Lower Makefield resident and a senior at Pennsbury High School, recently won the Pennsbury Symphonic Winds (PSW) Soloist Competition. She will be the soloist when the PSW performs at the Kimmel Center on May 22.
"I was extremely happy at being chosen as the winner of the Soloist Competition," she said, "This is a very big honor, as I, along with Symphonic Winds will be performing at the Kimmel Center for our spring concert in May."
The winner of the competition receives a $500 scholarship from Pennsbury Instrumental Music Boosters. This is Pennsbury's second annual Senior Soloist Competition.
At the Kimmel Center, she will perform "Rahoon, A Rhapsody for Clarinet and Band" composed by Alfred Reed.
"It is a beautiful piece and I am looking forward to performing it along with the band at the Kimmel Center," she said.
Ananthi has been playing the clarinet for nine years and has participated in a variety of music-oriented activities since middle school.
Ananthi has represented Pennsbury in the prestigious Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All- District, All-Regional, All-State Bands and Orchestra on clarinet. She is the pianist for the Jazz Band and is a member of the Clarinet Chamber Ensemble. She is marching band sergeant, clarinet section leader; and performs in the Pit Orchestra. "By participating in these activities, I have not only grown as a musician, but also as an individual who has experienced and learned that certain values are essential in being a leader and a team-worker, such as patience, maturity, responsibility, and compassion."
Ananthi attributes much of her success to her teachers. "Mr. (Frank) Mazzeo, the Pennsbury High School band director, has been my band teacher since elementary school, and I have yet to meet a teacher who is more excited and passionate about his teaching and music professions."
On behalf of all Pennsbury band students, Ananthi thanked Mazzeo; Mark Capriotti, associate band director at Pennsbury High
School; and all band parents for "providing us with so many amazing opportunities in the music field.
"A few examples include our (marching band's) trip to Hong Kong this spring and our spring concert at the Kimmel Center," she said.
Ananthi described the PSW Senior Soloist Competition this year as "a wonderful experience." As a candidate, she was responsible for signing a letter of intent, writing a resume of music achievements, as well as an essay on how music has been a significant aspect in her life, The audition meant performing in front of Mazzeo; Capriotti; Suzanne Schmidt, the music theory teacher in Pennsbury High School; and Nancy VanDerBas, a music and chorus teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School.
"It was a privilege for me to audition in front of four amazing teachers/directors, and I would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. VanDerBas for being there as she was my music teacher in elementary school."
Frank Mazzeo said of Ananthi: "She is one of the hardest working students we have ever had. The only thing better than her playing is her positive personality."
At a December Pennsbury school board meeting, Pennsbury district CEO Dr. Paul Long reported another accomplishment of Ananthi's: "Congratulations to Ananthi Rajamoorthi, winner of the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Student Citizenship Award."
Ananthi, he said, "is a long-time volunteer in the community who has already won approximately 48 awards and recognitions for academics and community involvement." Each winner from the Philadelphia region was invited to an awards ceremony held December 6 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
January 24, 2008
PEA raises funds for Pennsbury marching band students
"It's important that the students and the community come together to support our students." The pie sale allowed the community "to support our students going to Hong Kong." - Ellen Payne, internal chair of the PEA
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Staff Editor
To help defray some students' costs for the Pennsbury Marching Band's trip to Hong Kong, China this year, the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) sponsored a fall pie sale (Oct. 26 to Nov. 8).
A check for $3,659 was presented to the Pennsbury Marching Band Boosters on Jan. 14.
Ellen Payne, internal chair of the PEA, approached Frank Mazzeo, the marching band director, and told him the teachers wanted to raise the funds to help the band students.
The fundraiser was district-wide with 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and the high school participating. Pennsbury teachers collected, ordered and distributed the pies.
Mazzeo was touched by the generosity of his colleagues in their desire to make the trip attainable for all Marching Band members. He said to his colleagues: "You are all a daily inspiration with your work ethic, dedication and commitment to learning and I am extremely moved by your generosity and am even prouder to work with.
Karen Benedict and Payne were coordinators of the PEA pie sale. Both are gifted support teachers at Pennwood Middle School. The teachers serve as internal and external communications chairpersons for the PEA.
"It was brought to my attention that there are some students who were band members and this trip to China would be a financial burden to some students," Payne said. "We decided as teachers to do the pie sale."
Pie distribution took place on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The distribution of the pies was done through Pennwood Middle School on Nov. 20. "There were probably about 12 different kinds of flavors of pie," Payne said. Among the offerings were pumpkin, apple, Boston cream, pecan and sugar- free pies.
Letters and pie-order forms were sent to all the students throughout the school district and teachers.
When asked why the PEA's effort is important, Payne said, "It's important that the students and the community come together to support our students." The pie sale allowed the community "to support our students going to Hong Kong."
Payne said the PEA now plans to hold an annual fundraising event. Last year, the PEA collected supplies for the troops in Iraq.
PEA President George Miller, a .PHS high school statistics teacher, presented the check to Deb Alleva, president of the PMBB.
"This was rather fun for us," Miller said at the presentation. "I'm sure all of you got a little taste of the pies: Some of you may still be paying for it. In the end, we came up with a nice piece of change.
"We knew that several students were having financial difficulty raising the money necessary to go on this 'trip of a lifetime.' There was a real possibility that without this money these kids would miss out," Miller said after the meeting.
"We thought that a public display of teacher unity and effort might draw some attention to this problem and inspire others to donate or get involved with the fundraising effort.
"It was our first experience with such a large undertaking, but we dove in and threw our considerable resources at the problem."
Miller said this is the PEA's first pie sale, but the teachers' union has a long history of donating both time and money to the students and community members of the Pennsbury school district.
The PEA donates baskets to community auctions; sponsors youth athletic teams, and has donated thousands of dollars to the Pennsbury Scholarship Fund.
"Last year, we donated $5,000 to the graduating seniors headed to college to study teaching and we are currently developing a program that will offer mini- grants' to local non-profit organizations that work with or support the Pennsbury learning community."
The teachers' union (PEA) is comprised of teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, librarians, and nurses- "all working together with the community to help develop and foster a well-educated student body ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow today," Miller said.
November 21, 2007
The band has a tradition of performing at far-flung locations.
By MANASEE WAGH
COURIER TIMES
As 125 students marched Tuesday down Hood Boulevard in Falls playing a lively rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" heard in Disney's "The Lion King," traffic slowed and people leaned out their windows to watch. It was the Pennsbury High School Marching Band, practicing outside the school despite the dampness and cold for its performances in Philadelphia and China.
The band will lead the procession Thursday at the 6ABC/Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. The musicians will perform Disney tunes and two Sousa marches. The band has been a regular feature of the televised Philadelphia parade for 24 years and routinely performs at such events.
Recognized as one of the top school bands in the region, the band has won several competitions during this school year. They include the U.S. Scholastic Band Association Competition in Allentown, which it won for the second year in a row. "I've never seen a school that works as hard as us. The thing that's unique is, you see the amount of work we put in and a staff that's committed," said Frank Mazzeo, who directs the marching band and the concert jazz band at the high school. Page Since September, band members have practiced more than two hours every day after school and several hours on weekends. Then there's the two-week band camp at the high school in the summer, at which students practice eight hours a day.
Now the band is buckling down to face a bigger challenge.
On March 21, members will pack up their instruments and supplies and fly to Hong Kong to play at an international rugby tournament. Forty thousand people will be in the stands, while another 50 million viewers from Asia, New Zealand, Europe and Australia are expected to watch on TV, according to organizers.
Students bubbled over Tuesday with excitement about the trip.
Emily Hooven, a junior who plays the trumpet, said that preparation for the Hong Kong trip has been "more intense than anything before." The band has taken on new musical challenges and will play "Rhapsody for Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band" at the tournament, among other musical numbers. "It's great that we're chosen to represent the U.S. in a foreign country" said David, assistant drum major. "We can show them we're hard-working."
Gov. Ed Rendell recognized band members' achievements with a recent letter, extending best wishes to them on their trip overseas.
The invitation to perform at the rugby tournament came in March after the president of the tournament saw DVD of a Pennsbury band competition performance. Mazzeo had given the DVD) to the Hong Kong government its request and said it was "very well received."
Organization for a trip of this magnitude isn't easy, Mazzeo said. Those involved have to weigh every instrument, make sure 165 people's passports are in order and worry about insurance, he said. Besides the students, 25 chaperones, 10 staff and faculty members and nine parents are going.
The band has a tradition of performing at far-flung locations. When it leads the parade down Main Street in Hong Kong's Disneyland in March, it will become the only band on the planet to play at all five worldwide Disneyland locations, which include Tokyo and Paris. "It's a really, unique experience," said Jonah Lustig, who plays tenor drums. "We're going to remember it for the test of our lives;"
The band's first and only trip to China was in 1988.
It's no surprise to Mazzeo at the band is so successful.
"The administration totally supports the program. Twenty-five parents are chaperones and they put in lots of time," he said. 14 addition, 175 parents and alumni who belong to the Instrumental Music Boosters help organize events and raise money. Students sell candy and fruit snacks in school to raise funds as well.
August 30, 2007
Pennsbury Steps It Up for Its Springtime Tour of Hong Kong
May 12, 2007
Student Jazz Band to Play Free Concert
The Pennsbury High School concert jazz band performed in the Monterey Jazz Festival in California.
By RACHEL CANELLI
COURIER TIMES
For more than 40 years, Pennsbury students have been painting the town and all that jazz.
The Pennsbury jazz program, specifically the high school concert jazz band, has a rich tradition of dedication and international recognition, said director Frank Mazzeo.
Next week, the district will celebrate that history with a free concert Thursday night at the Pennsbury High School east campus, administrators said. The event is the 40th annual Jazz at Pennsbury.
"It's a special program with a history of dedicated directors and supportive parents and administrators," said Mazzeo, who's in his 21st year of teaching music.
The program was founded in 1959, according to Mazzeo.
Since then, the high school concert jazz band has earned acclaim from around the world, he said.
The Pennsbury jazz lab band also draws from ninth- through 12th-graders. It's considered a training ground to prepare students who want to audition for the concert band, Mazzeo said.
That group is the only American high school jazz ensemble to perform in the Republic of China, said Mazzeo.
The student musicians have also played in Switzerland and Canada and recently returned from placing fourth in the Monterey Jazz Festival in California, he said.
There, the 23-piece band competed against 11 other jazz bands from schools in California, Oregon, Utah and Illinois. Some of those academies' curricula focused on music. Pennsbury was the only jazz band from the East Coast, officials said.
Their secret is simple: practice, Mazzeo said. The teens rehearse six days a week three hours after school Monday through Friday and sections meet over the weekend.
"Everyone wants to keep that tradition up," said 18- year-old Eric Dorr, a trumpet player and the band's student director. "It takes a lot of dedication. If it's snowing, we still rehearse.
What's most rewarding is that this is an extracurricular [activity]. We're well- rounded."
Next year, the marching and jazz bands are invited to entertain in Hong Kong. On the last day of the Hong Kong Sevens, which is a seven-day rugby tournament, the students will play for a crowd of 40,000.
Then, the marching band's claim to fame will be performing in all four Disney amusement parks.
"It's challenging," said Kayla Chapman, a senior bass trombone player and one of only three girls in the band. "We work harder than anyone else, even students who attend schools only for music."
And that tradition is only going to continue. Mazzeo said he's starting to see Pennsbury graduate instrumentalists coming back to see their children and even grandchildren perform.
Pennsbury's jazz program will celebrate more than 40 years Thursday, May 17 with a free concert at 6 p.m. at the Pennsbury High School east campus at 705 Hood Blvd. in Fairless Hills. Performing will be the high school's two jazz bands, international jazz drummer Carl Allen and the three middle school jazz bands.
May 10, 2007
Pennsbury Band Shines at Monterey Jazz Festival
"It says a lot for our students' work ethic and determination, the administration, school board, the booster organization, our program and the community." - Band Director Frank Mazzeo
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
Frank Mazzeo shares his love for smooth jazz with his students on a regular basis. And his passion for the sound literally rubs off on the teenagers, who he teaches, both inside the classroom and for special occasions like international competitions.
His Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band competed last month in the 37th annual National High School Competition, called The Next Generation Festival in Monterey, California. The youths brought recognition back home to Pennsbury by placing fourth place out of 12 in the jazz competition (March 22-25), which included bands from the U.S., Australia and Japan. More than 200 bands auditioned for the competition. "I am always proud of our students here in the instrumental music department at Pennsbury High School simply because of the outstanding young men and women that they are," Mazzeo said. "The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band students are the hardest working students in Pennsbury High School they play in our marching band, school shows, concert bands, community performances, rehearse everyday after school and on Saturday mornings."
Accompanying the band to Monterey was Bill Katz, administrative principal at Pennsbury High School. He has gone on a couple trips with the high school's marching band, including Paris and Hawaii. However, Katz said, "that's with 200 students and a bunch of chaperones. This was much more relaxed. They were excellent.
"In this Next Generation Jazz Festival," Katz continued, "only the top high schools in the nation were invited. We were the last school invited. The top three got some special awards, but they were schools that actually have a jazz band class and work on it all year.
"Our jazz band is an extra curricular activity like marching band," the principal said. "We don't get started until December. We finished fourth out of 12 schools and the kids were exceptional - they just did an exceptional job. "I was watching our band come out," Katz said. "They played maybe one or two notes and a woman sitting next to me turned and said, "Wow!!"
They were that impressive. Katz who is retiring this summer, has spent the last 16 years of his 35 years in education as principal at Pennsbury High School. He has been with Pennsbury for a total of 25 years. Before Pennsbury, he was an educator for 10 years in Bristol Township.
Pennsbury school district CEO Paul Long also traveled with the Concert Jazz Band to the Monterey Jazz Festival in California. The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band (PCJB) performed March 15 to an appreciative audience before the regularly scheduled school board meeting. The PCJB issues a regular newsletter, which board members receive, called "Street Beat."
Meanwhile, Mazzeo said the hard work really paid off: "I was very proud of our high school instrumental music program to compete against almost 200 bands from Japan, Australia, the United States as well as against six strong Arts Magnet schools and to have a public school program from Pennsbury come in fourth place over all! -
"It says a lot for our students' work ethic and determination, the administration, school board, the booster organization, our program and the community," Mazzeo said.
Debbie Alleva of Lower Makefield Township is president of the Pennsbury Instrumental Music Boosters. "I think the students had a great time," she said. "I was really proud of their performance. They were awesome," she said.
In his office after school as his music students practiced outside in the music rooms, Mazzeo played a recording of the jazz band, which is complete with the judges' comments recorded with the sound track.
"I like these songs," Alleva said. "I've been listening (to the tape). I like the sound. It does get you moving. The more you listen to it, the more you understand it."
Among the students, who performed in Monterey, were David Sabogal, Rachel LeCavalier, Lucas Ottaggio and Ryan Metzler. All are seniors, who are 18, and live in Yardley. Lucas Ottaggio, said:
"We played our usual three," he said in a round- table interview with the Yardley News. Those numbers are: Cherry Juice, and Three and One, both by Thad Jones; and A Game of Inches by Gordon Goodwin.
"I enjoyed the experience of playing in a Monterey convention center and sightseeing. We saw Alcatraz and all of San Francisco," Lucas said.
Rachel LeCavalier noted: "We also saw new parts of the country and we had warm weather during the winter.".
Ryan Metzler said: "I really enjoyed being able to play in front of the judges and hearing what they had to say about our band."
David Sabogal said: "The best part was seeing and meeting other bands, and hearing how they played and their style in comparison to how we play." Jazz Band students who performed in the festival are: Matt Adler, Jake Antoniello, Patrick Bailey, Rich Beem, Jr., Sawyer Bernath, Pam Carmasine, Kayla Chapman, Marc Diretto, Eric Dorr, Seth Dowdell, Zach Drummond, David Gibbon, Steve Harpine, Julian Hierschbuam, LeCavalier, Metzler, Ottagio and Sabogal.
July 28, 2007
Marching, Jazz Bands Going to Hong Kong
The Pennsbury Marching Band will be the only band in the world to have performed at all five Disney theme parks.
By CARL Lavo
COURIER TIMES
The Pennsbury High School Marching Band and Pennsbury Jazz Band will hit the road in the spring return trip to China after 20 years.
The musicians have accepted an invitation to perform in Hong Kong in March as the featured entertainment at an international rugby tournament in the city Frank Mazzeo, director of both the marching and jazz bands, announced the 10-day engagement Friday. The band toured mainland China in 1988. "The marching band will perform before 40,000 fans at Hong Kong Stadium on March 30," Mazzeo said. "It will be the largest crowd that the band has ever performed in front of. And it will be broadcast live to 50 million people throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. We're pretty excited." The band leaves March 24 and returns April 1.
The key performance at the stadium will be at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby championship tournament.
Other performances by members of both the marching and jazz bands include a concert at the Chinese cultural center and Hong Kong's Disneyland. The latter has special significance, since the Pennsbury Marching Band will be the only band in the world to have performed at all five Disney theme parks Japan, Hong Kong, France, Florida and California, Mazzeo said.
Mazzeo said the band was chosen to make the trip after submitting a DVD of its performances to the rugby festival organizers and the local government in Hong Kong.
Carl Lavo can be reached at 215-949-4227 or clavo@phillyBurbs.com.
July 14, 1999
In the Marching Band and Proud of It
"There's no putting people down in the band at all... People say, 'You're in the band, that's cool.'" Marc Mandell, Drum Major
When the Pennsbury High School football team finished its final home game of the season last November, no one left the packed stands. The players and cheerleaders stood on the sidelines. They all stayed while the 180 members of the Pennsbury marching band played music by Russian composers like Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff. And when it was over, there was wild applause from everyone, including the football team.
1966 - 1978
A Brief History of PCJB - Newspapers Articles
