Music Students Earn Honors

Westminster College instrumentalists earned top honors at the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Honors Band at Bloomsburg University and were chosen to perform at the Collegiate Band Directors National Honors Band at Vanderbilt University in March.

Earning top spots in their sections at the state honors band were: senior music education major Danielle Aurandt, principal alto/soprano saxophonist; junior music education and music performance major Joseph Bandi, principal hornist; junior music education major Linsey Clauser, first chair, second horn; junior music performance major Marissa Lyerly, principal clarinetist and concertmistress; and senior physics major Samuel Mellon, principal bass clarinetist.

Selected for the national honors band were Lyerly (clarinet) and senior music education majors Kyle Grabigel, who earned second chair in the tuba section and Jennifer Peet, who earned the principal chair in the flute section.

The students are involved in a variety of Westminster bands under the direction of Dr. R. Tad Greig, Westminster associate professor of music and director of instrumental activities. 

Greig was asked to speak at the Georgia Music Educators Association all-state conference in January; was the guest conductor for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Region 1 high school honors band in February; and presented a session on music performance assessment at the PMEA state conference in March.

Greig, who joined the Westminster faculty in 1995, earned an undergraduate degree from Grove City College, master’s degree from Youngstown State University and Ph.D. from Kent State University.

Contact Greig at 724-946-7279 or email greigrt@westminster.edu for additional information.

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Student Hometown Information:

Bradford, PA
Samuel Mellon, a senior physics major, is a son of David and Martha Mellon and a graduate of Bradford Area High School.

Greenville, PA
Danielle Aurandt, a senior music education major, is a daughter of David and Mary Aurandt and a graduate of Commodore Perry High School.

Imperial, PA
Joseph Bandi, a junior music education and music performance major, is a son of Joseph and Debbie Bandi and a graduate of West Allegheny High School.

Mercer, PA
Kyle Grabigel, a senior music education major, is a son of Gerald and Virginia Grabigel and a graduate of Mercer Area High School.

Schuylkill Haven, PA
Linsey Clauser, a junior music education major, is a daughter of Robert and Dana Clauser and a graduate of Blue Mountain High School.

Pittsford, NY
Jennifer Peet, a senior music education major, is a daughter of Robert and Sharon Peet and a graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School.

Benson, NC
Marissa Lyerly, a junior music performance major, is a daughter of Bryan and Lisa Lyerly and a graduate of Mars Area High School.

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