Performing Groups
The Octet
The Octet comprises eight boys who sing a capella for the school community and beyond. Membership in the Octet is selective; new members audition each year to replace graduating seniors.
Magalia
Magalia is an auditioned a cappella group of nine girls who are typically members of the Chorale. The ensemble sings mostly pop music for campus events and for off-campus occasions; they rehearse four evenings a week.
The Chorale
With about 60 singers, the Chorale is the largest musical ensemble on campus. Participants not only sing a lot of great music of various styles, they also practice important skills, such as proper breathing, breath support, tone production, ear training, sight singing, and basic musicianship. The Chorale performs for school and off-campus events, including the annual Music in the Parks adjudication in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The chorale is directed by Richard Rotz. Chorale is open to anyone who signs up with the registrar. Chorale members receive academic credit.
The Concert Band
The Concert Band consists of about 35 wind and percussion musicians who perform on and off campus, including at the Music in the Parks adjudication in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The band’s repertoire includes both serious and popular band music. Membership is limited to musicians who have attained at least a ninth-grade level of proficiency on an instrument. The band rehearses three times a week, and members receive academic credit for the class. The concert band is conducted by Richard Rotz.
The Jazz Band
The Jazz Band at Mercersburg follows the traditional big-band format with 14 to 16 student musicians playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drums, guitar, piano, and bass. The band performs a broad spectrum of music, ranging from swing to Latin, rock, and pop. Each year they perform three public concerts on campus in addition to shorter performances at school functions. The jazz band occasionally travels off campus to perform and annually participates in an adjudication festival. The jazz band is directed by Jack Hawbaker.
The Percussion Ensemble
The Academy Percussion Ensemble comprises the percussionists of the Academy Band who perform throughout the year as an ensemble. The Ensemble encourages multi-percussion ability and its repertoire includes standard literature as well as popular arrangements.
Chapel Choir
The Choral Scholars is an ensemble of 10 to 15 students who sing for the Sunday morning Chapel service, the Christmas Candlelight Services, and Baccalaureate. Because of the group’s small size, members enjoy extensive opportunities for solo work. The Choral Scholars rehearse weekly and perform two or three times a month. Membership is open to any student by meeting with the director, Jim Brinson.
String Ensemble
The String Ensemble, a group of 12 to 15 musicians, is open to all string players. The ensemble performs under the direction of Matthew Salomon at Christmas Candlelight Services, at Family Weekends, and throughout the year.
