PCHS Orchestra hosts Regionals, qualifies for State

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City High School Orchestra earned top honors Tuesday at the regional competition held at the Eccles Theater, receiving a ‘Superior’ rating from judges and securing a spot at the state finals. Performing with precision and hosting six other Utah schools, the orchestra capped off a standout showing on their home stage.

Visiting schools were: Hillcrest, Jordan, Tooele, Cottonwood, Stansbury, and Murray High.

The three judges were from the Utah Music Educators Association. They gave the PCHS Intermediate group two “Superiors” and an “Excellent” which averages out to “Superior.” The more advanced PCHS Chamber group, in the above video, received all Superiors, the highest possible rating.

The Stage Tech students got to utilize their skills for the long day as well from when the first group took the stage at 1:30 in the afternoon and the last ones performed at 8:00 that night. 

This will be the fourth year in a row the Miners have made it to State. Last year they were one of only four High Schools that received all Superiors. 

PCHS Orchestra Director Eva Marble has been with the School District for five years, and played violin when she was in her high school orchestra. She matriculated at Utah’s Snow College for her undergrad playing in their symphony, adding the viola to her repertoire. Then, this December she earned her masters degree in education from Southern Utah University. 

“I like to choose music that’s fun to play and also challenging for the students, but not too challenging. The pieces they played tonight, for example, weren’t necessarily my first pick, but when the kids and I read through it together at the beginning of the school year they all said that was the one they wanted to learn to play. I want them to be motivated because I do expect them to practice, and if they don’t like the music, they won’t want to practice.”

“I’m really proud of all the hard work all my students do,” she added. There are some standout seniors mentioned though like Meagan Shultz who plays cello and has the student leadership role in the Miners Music Department. She’s among the many seniors in this year’s Orchestra who are planning on playing an instrument in college, but not not necessarily majoring in it.

Hayden Coccaro understands that, he told TownLift, “While I don’t play in an orchestra these days since PCHS, I definitely have a deeper appreciation for music after all I learned from the great teachers.” He’s a former cello player in the PCHS Orchestra. His mom worked at his Trailside Elementary School when the Ecker Hill Middle School String Band came and did a little performance and “I was hooked,” he said.

“Getting to be in music classes, traveling together, and always practicing after school with my fellow Orchestra student-musicians who became my good friends was absolutely one of the places and spaces where I felt the best, where I felt the most like me in all of Park City,”  concluded Coccaro.

He had come to this performance to sit in the audience in support of one of those cello playing friends on stage.

The world-class theater venue, on-site at the High School a contributing factor in Park City getting to host Orchestra State next year, “People know about our stage and want to play on it,” said Marble.

She says she likes working in concert with the Park City Institute. 

State this year will be held at Highland High School in the Salt Lake Valley, May 15-17.