The Home Page Network

Last Saturday, April 5th, Canton Vocal Music Teacher Randall Frye and Instrumental Music Teacher Tammy MacWhinnie were honored to host the 2025 PMEA District 8 Jazz Festival at the Nelle Black Westgate Auditorium. Participating students came from Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union counties.
The PMEA District 8 Jazz Festival comprises the following 4 ensembles: Middle School District Jazz Band, Middle School District Jazz Vocal Choir, High School District Jazz Band and High School District Jazz Vocal Choir. Students who participated in the Middle School Ensembles were nominated by their directors. Students in the High School Ensembles were selected through recorded auditions.
The Guest Conductor for the Middle School Vocal Jazz Choir was Carol Madill. Mrs. Madill is a retired music educator from Wyalusing School District. She received the PMEA Citation of Excellence Award and is in demand as a guest clinician. The Guest Conductor for the High School Vocal Jazz Choir was John Stafford II. Mr. Stafford is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Coordinator of the Music Department at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). Professor Stafford was a 2015 recipient of the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for outstanding teaching and leadership at the community college level. Also, Stafford was the recipient of the Henry Louis Award for Teaching Excellence at KCKCC in 2020 (Faculty of the Year award). The Guest Conductor for the Middle School Jazz Band was James Flowers. Mr. Flowers is visiting assistant professor of Saxophone at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and adjunct professor of saxophone at Westminster College. He recently completed a doctorate of musical arts in saxophone performance and literature with a minor in jazz at the Eastman School of Music. The Guest Conductor for the High School Jazz Band was Kevin Eisensmith. Mr. Eisensmith retired in 2022 after teaching at the collegiate level for 32 years, including 8 years at Eastern Kentucky University and 24 years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was named Professor Emeritus. All four groups rehearsed at the school on Saturday prior to the concert at 4 PM.
The Home Page Network would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this event possible, and to the community for their continued support of the arts.