Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) High School musicians Elliott Holmes, Mia LaFontaine, Clara Mecouch, Ellie Rhinier, Leiana Smathers, and Carson Zook have earned the chance to perform in their home venue alongside students from across the district.

The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Modern Band Festival will be held Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, in the Lampeter-Strasburg High School Performing Arts Center, 1640 Book Road, Lancaster.

Students will spend that Friday rehearsing, and the event will culminate with a public concert the following day at 3 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door.

The six L-S performers will join 29 of the best student musicians from the counties of Adams, Franklin, Cumberland, Lancaster, York, Dauphin, Perry, and Lebanon. There will be 16 school districts represented.

Jennifer Jester from Millersville University will be the guest conductor.

L-S choral director Erik Welchans, who also teaches elective courses, will be the host director. Welchans started a modern band class at L-S last year. "(Modern band is) an up-and-coming thing across the state and across the nation," he said. "The talent and competition keep getting better. We are reaching kids that we don't normally see in the music wing, so it's really neat."

Students will be divided into five bands, which each group having either six or seven members.

Ellie, a senior vocalist, and Elliott, a freshman keyboardist, are in a band that will perform "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan, "Silver Springs" by Fleetwood Mac, "Limelight" by Rush, and "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses.

"Everyone makes good connections with each other," Ellie said. "Last year my band and I really bonded, and we started hanging out after the festival and playing music together. It's a good way to meet other talented people and connect with them."

Elliott said, "I am hoping to improve my skills as a musician while at the same time getting to know people who aren't from my school. It's a valuable experience to have."

Clara, a senior vocalist, will sing "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan, "Shoulder to the Wheel" by Saves the Day, "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder, and "Killer Queen" by Queen.

" 'Isn't She Lovely' is a really strong contrast to 'Shoulder to the Wheel,' and 'Killer Queen' is a strong contrast to 'Good Luck, Babe!'" said Clara. "They all contrast each other, and we all have different musical styles," Clara said.

Clara prefers hardcore funk pop and wants to be an actor in musical theater. "I spend a lot of time training in different forms because musicals are very versatile these days," she said. "It's a matter of knowing how to sing a bunch of different things, and I've been good with that since I was younger because of being in theater and doing a lot of different shows."

Leiana, a junior vocalist, will sing "Tom Sawyer" by Rush, "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas, "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Eclipse" by Pink Floyd.

She stated that singing at festivals helps boost her confidence level. "I did this last year, and it helped me get out of my shell," Leiana said. "I figured out I could sing these songs. It was a lot of fun. I like building the experience, so later down the line I will be less nervous when it comes to more professional stuff that I want to do."

Mia, a junior vocalist, will sing "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, "Hard Times" by Paramore, "99 Luftballons" by Nena, and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac. She said she appreciates her school's music department.

"There are so many things I get to do at this school from our chorus concerts to doing 'Mamma Mia!' or a play to doing a Modern Band Festival," Mia said. "The school lets us have so many experiences with music, and I get so many different perspectives and opportunities for other people to come into our school and see what we do here. I think it's really great."

Carson, a senior, will play bass on songs "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters, "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon, and two mashups.

The modern band members are grateful for their instructors. "I think our teachers are really awesome," Clara said. "I think Mr. Welchans is really awesome, and I think the teachers are very supportive."

L-S offers classes in vocal repertoire, music theory, and now modern band. "Mr. Welchans pushes us to take different kinds of classes within our music department," Mia said. "It gives you the opportunity to play different instruments and explore within your musicianship different things you can do."