PCA Recognizes Eight Students for Classical All State Involvement

December 6, 2019PCA News Stories

Portsmouth Christian Academy (PCA) is pleased to recognize eight students who qualified for Classical All State ensembles. Of the eight students who auditioned, all eight were selected. Students selected for All State Orchestra were Wayne Lam (violin), Tim Lam (violin), Julie Stevens (violin) and Sierra Lignos (viola). Emily Komerska, Abby Vaccaro, and Emily Vaccaro were selected for All State Mixed Chorus, and Cort Baussmann (trumpet) was selected for All State Band.

This accomplishment recognizes PCA students among the best high school musicians in New Hampshire. The eight students from PCA represent 21% of the total number of students involved in PCA’s Upper School Fine Arts department.

Auditions for Classical All State include the following: sight-reading a piece of music, playing pieces which students have been given in advance to work on, and performing scales.

Carroll Stevens, Fine Arts Director at PCA, says, “I’m super proud of our students who have worked hard to prepare their audition material. Their hard work goes beyond just their preparation for this festival; they’ve committed themselves to our program over multiple years. They come to class each day with infectious enthusiasm and a team spirit. I see them stretching themselves as musicians both inside and outside the classroom.”

In particular, Stevens is thrilled to see several freshmen included in the All State selection: Tim Lam, Julie Stevens, and Sierra Lignos. To be set apart, as freshmen, among the best high school musicians in the state, is a testament to their hard work and talent. These freshmen have been a part of PCA’s Fine Arts program for many years, beginning at the Lower School where music is an important emphasis in the Preschool-Grade 8 curriculum. These three freshmen students, Stevens says, have stepped into the Upper School ensembles with a great aptitude to perform at the Upper School level.

Several of the students included in the All State selection hope to carry their musical talents beyond their studies at PCA. Cort Baussmann, who plays several instruments and composes music, hopes to continue musical studies after graduating from PCA. Emily Vaccaro also has interest in composing music and plans to study music production in college. Others, including Emily Komerska, are considering musical studies in college.

Portsmouth Christian Academy has been inspiring students on the Seacoast to maximize their potential for 40 years. PCA provides a nurturing educational environment that emphasizes Christ-centered community, outstanding academics, differentiated learning, and exceptional character. Located just minutes northwest of Portsmouth, NH on a beautiful fifty-acre riverfront campus, PCA is a dually accredited, independent, college-preparatory, day school where young people from Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire in preschool through Grade 12 are challenged to thrive academically and grow as servant-leaders prepared to impact the world for good. For more information, visit pcaschool.org.