Five Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS) students participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Chorus Festival, held Jan. 9 to 10 at Boiling Springs High School.

The selected students were Elaina Smith, alto 2; Ben Creason, bass 1; Stephen Fasick, tenor 1; Hayden Simione, tenor 2; and Makayla Weaver, soprano 1. The festival brought together about 215 student vocalists from across the region, who were chosen through a highly competitive audition process. Under the direction of Craig Denison, director of choirs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the ensemble rehearsed and performed a program designed to challenge and develop each participant's musical skills.

The PMEA District 7 Chorus Festival provides opportunities for musical growth, allowing students to collaborate with peers from across the region while learning from a distinguished conductor.

In addition, 12 EAHS students were selected by the Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators Association (LLMEA) to participate in the 2026 All-County Chorus. This year's honorees were Ben Creason, Kiersten Erikson, Stephen Fasick, Sadie Givens, Audra Kuntz, JJ McBride, James Mott, Gia Piazza, Connor Saxon, Hayden Simione, Elaina Smith, and Makayla Weaver. The students joined more than 200 talented musicians from schools across Lancaster and Lebanon counties to perform at the 2026 LLMEA Music Festival, held at Hempfield High School and directed by Dustin Cates, assistant professor of music education at Temple University.

The EAHS students are supported and mentored by Benjamin Fortier, choral director at EAHS.