The Arts Academy Charter School congratulates music instrumental students selected to represent the school and participate in the upcoming Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 10 Band and Orchestra Festivals.

Students selected for the Intermediate Band and Orchestra Festival include eighth-grade violinist Elisha Ramos, seventh-grade violinist Fianna Hertzog, eighth-grade trumpeter Stuart Raveling and seventh-grade flautist Stephanie Gombosi.

Student selected for the Elementary Band and Orchestra Festival include sixth-grade violinist Amaris Ramos, sixth-grade violist Jacob Steger, sixth-grade violist Kevin Betancourt, sixth-grade cellist Cassie Kaintz, sixth-grade trumpeter Nicholas Jones and sixth-grade saxophonist Caleb Mendoza.

"We are really excited about the number of Arts Academy students that have been selected to participate in this year's PMEA Festival. The students have improved significantly since the school opened a year and a half ago," said music teacher Robin Galloway.

The intermediate festival was held March 7 at Southern Lehigh Middle School and included students from Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Pike, Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

The elementary festival will be held April 11 at Northampton High School and will include students from Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe and Pike counties.

Student musicians come together for one day to rehearse and then perform for the public.

The festivals are conducted annually. For more information, visit http://www.pmeadistrict10.org/ and follow the link on the left to Band/Orchestra Fests.

The Arts Academy Charter School is a tuition-free, arts-enriched public middle school serving students, grades five through eight, from 21 school districts. The school offers an arts integrated approach to learning, with opportunities to explore dance, visual arts, theater, figure skating, vocal or instrumental music. The school's rigorous academics and arts are taught by certified teachers, distinguished teaching artists and professional experts. For more information about the school visit their website at www.arts-cs.org.