Students Perform at Intercollegiate Band Festival

Six student musicians from The University of Scranton’s Performance Music participated and performed at the 77th Annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival, hosted this year by Kutztown University from March 14 to March 16.

Scranton students who participated, accompanied by Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga and Co-Director Janelle Decker, and the instruments they played follows.

Joseph T. Dolan, Conshohocken, played the tenor saxophone. Dolan is a computer science major and a member of the University’s Class of 2026.

Danielle E. Fernandez, Chatham, New Jersey, played the flute. Fernandez is an occupational therapy major and a member of the University’s Class of 2025.

Sally M. Hopkins, East Stroudsburg, played the tuba. Hopkins is an advertising/public relations and journalism and electronic media double major and a member of the University's Class of 2026.

Thomas E. Marine, Cockeysville, Maryland, played the trumpet. Marine is a biochemistry major and a member of the University’s Class of 2026

Anthony I. Torres, New Milford, played the French horn. Torres is a biochemistry major and a member of the University’s Class of 2025. He is on Scranton’s pre-med track and is a member of the University’s Undergraduate Honors Program. Torres is also the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton. 

Caitlin E. Wilson, Harrisburg, played the French horn. Wilson is a biology major and member of the University’s Class of 2027. Wilson is also the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton. 

Selected students from colleges and universities throughout the state and their directors converge each spring on the campus of that year’s host school, having prepared their instrument’s parts for each composition on the program in advance. Upon arriving, they audition for seating order in their section and – after the seating of the band – rehearse intensively for two and a half days under the baton of a nationally known guest conductor, culminating in the gala festival concert on Sunday afternoon. This year’s guest conductor is Mary K. Schneider, professor of conducting and director of bands at Eastern Michigan University.

The festival is run by the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association, and The University of Scranton is one of the longest continuous participants in the festival, with student musicians selected for participation every one of the last forty-four years consecutively.

Boga has chaired the seating audition committee for the organization for thirty-three of those years, served multiple terms as president and vice president of the organization, and hosted the festival at Scranton’s Houlihan McLean Center in 1990 and 2000.

The primary focus of Performance Music at the University is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) from every major are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs, and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year. Other programs within the department, including guest artist concerts, the World Premiere Composition Series, the Nelhybel Collection, and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe, interact and perform with numerous world-class musicians and artist-teachers. High school juniors and seniors who are considering applying to Scranton are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert or tour the building.

For further information on the festival and the University's 2025 spring concert schedule, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu  or visit scranton.edu/music.