Four Shady Side Academy Senior School students have reached the highest level a high school musician can achieve by earning places in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Festival ensembles.
Among them is Monroeville resident Hari Viswanathan, a Shady Side Academy junior who will play piano in the PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble, scheduled for April 19-22 at the Kalahari Resort in Monroe County.
Viswanathan is president of the Senior School Jazz Ensemble and performs with the Senior School Jazz Combo, and has studied with keyboard player and composer Scott Anderson. He performs regularly around Pittsburgh at open mic and jazz sessions.
This is the second straight year Viswanathan was named to the PMEA District 1 Honors Jazz Band, and the first year he was named all-state. He is the first Shady Side Academy student ever named to the All-State Jazz Ensemble.
Each year, thousands of high school musicians across the state audition for PMEA festivals in their geographic area.
Individually, students perform for a panel of judges. Those who rank the highest advance to compete against musicians from other parts of their PMEA regions.
The highest-ranking musicians at the regional level qualify to perform in one of six all-state music ensembles. Nationally recognized conductors direct the ensembles at the All-State Festival, with two days of rehearsal and a performance.
