After the first performance in the Tyrone Area High School auditorium in over a year and a half, audience members, musicians, and school officials all agreed…it’s been worth the wait.
No one seemed more excited for the concert than senior drum major Kaliegh Brodzina.
“It just felt magical, getting to use all the lighting and mics for the first time and hearing the acoustics blend so well was really special,” Brodzina said.
The audience showed their appreciation for the talent on stage with a standing ovation after the band’s performance.
The auditorium has been closed since June 2022 for a $4 million rebuild, and while the price tag was high, the benefits to the school and the community will be enjoyed for many decades.
“This space is very important to the school and community,” Tyrone Band Director David Hock said. “So many people use it, for music and arts, assemblies, dance recitals, musicals, other performances, and much more. It will serve the community for many years to come.”
Hock had the honor of conducting the first official performance on the stage.
After playing the National Anthem and the Tyrone High School alma mater, the band performed a selection of holiday classics and finished with a stage performance of the marching band’s award-winning 2023 show, Inferno.
Brodiza and fellow senior drum major Austin White were the first student conductors in the new auditorium. Both were excited to perform in the state-of-the-art facility.
“For two years, the music department has had to utilize spaces outside of the school for concerts, and they just weren’t the same as the [auditorium],” White said.
Tyrone Area School District Superintendent Leslie Estep was also very pleased with the look and sound of the new auditorium.
“Although there is still some work to be completed, the initial results are exactly the ones for which we had hoped, significantly less house noise from the HVAC unit, improved lighting and acoustics, and updated sound and lighting system, and seating,” Estep said. “This project is a long-term investment that continues our commitment to maintain and provide up-to-date, well-maintained facilities for our staff, students, and the community.”
The first thing audience members will notice when visiting the new space are the seats, wall coverings, and acoustic ceiling panels.
“The auditorium looks wonderful. It is so much brighter and more modern than before,” said Tyrone Middle School Principal Shane Cowher, who was in the audience last night.
However, those in attendance agreed that the sound in the room was even more impressive than the looks.
“The acoustics are amazing. I was blown away by how our band sounded on opening night. The performance of “The Little Drummer Boy” with the large bass drums really resonated throughout the auditorium,” Cowher said.
Hock was also impressed with the acoustics of his new performance space.
“The first time we practiced in the auditorium I was in awe at how much the sound quality improved in the space. You can hear the instruments so much better from anywhere in the auditorium,” Hock said.
Sophomore clarinet player Theo Kleintop was excited to perform on the new stage with her fellow band members. She said she is happy not to have to perform in the cafeteria or the gym anymore.
“It was wonderful, especially after hearing how it sounded at our practice. It makes the band sound amazing,” Kleintop said.
