April 5, 2021

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s All Catholic Concert Band to Perform Its Annual Festival Via Livestream

Seventy-four students representing Archdiocesan Secondary Schools and private Catholic High Schools throughout the five-county region have been selected to participate in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 2021 All Catholic Concert Band.

This year’s concert is under the direction of guest conductor, Mr. James Colonna, D.M.A, Director of Bands/Graduate Studies in Instrumental Conducting, Messiah University. It will be hosted by Mr. Michael Connor (Class of ’85), President of Cardinal O’Hara High School, Mrs. Eileen Vice (Class of ’89), Principal of Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield (Delaware County), and Mr. Hector Ramirez, Music Director for Cardinal O’Hara High School.

Saturday, April 10, 2021
6:30 p.m.
Cardinal O’Hara High School

To view the livestream of the 2021 All Catholic Concert Band please click here.

Social distancing and COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed. 

The students will perform selections from:  Apples, composed by Andrew Boysen; Cause for Celebration, composed by William Himes; Portraits, composed by James Colonna, Guest Conductor; and American We, composed by Henry Fillmore.

Students from Archdiocesan Secondary Schools including Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor (Delaware County); Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia; Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster (Bucks County); Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote (Montgomery County); Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown (Chester County); Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield (Delaware County); Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills (Bucks County);  Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford (Montgomery County); Roman Catholic High School for Boys in Center City, Philadelphia; and Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in the Tacony section of Philadelphia will participate.

Students from private Catholic High Schools including Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Gwynedd Valley (Montgomery County); Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem (Bucks County); Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown (Montgomery County); Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia; Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova (Delaware County); Saint Basil Academy in Jenkintown (Montgomery County); Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in North Philadelphia; Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland (Bucks County);  and Villa Marie Academy High School in Malvern (Chester County) will also participate.

Background Information on Mr. James Colonna, Guest Conductor

Mr. James Colonna (b. 1970) is the Director of Bands at Messiah College where he teaches graduate wind-conducting and conducts the wind ensemble. He has held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Utah Valley University where he lead the UVU Wind Symphony to a performance at The West/Northwest CBDNA conference in 2012.

Jim’s compositions have been performed all over the world including Italy, Belgium, Finland, Japan as well as conferences WASBE, CBDNA and the Midwest Clinic. 

As a conductor Jim’s ensembles have performed at CBDNA Northwest/West, NJMEA, PMEA/NAFME All East.

He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting from Michigan State University in 2007, Master of Music Degree from the University of North Texas in 2000.  Jim’s Conducting teachers include Eugene Corporon, Kevin Sedatole, John T Madden, and Jack Stamp.

Dr. Colonna studied composition with Charles Ruggerio (MSU), Cindy McTee (UNT), and Jack Stamp (IUP).  

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Editor’s Note: The All Catholic String Orchestra performed at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster (Bucks County) on Saturday, March 6, 2021. The orchestra performed under the direction of guest conductor, Mr. Joseph Lovecchio. The livestream performance can be viewed here. The All Catholic Chorus performed at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills (Bucks County) on Saturday, March 20, 2021. The chorus performed under the direction of guest conductor of Dr. Rachel Cornacchio, Professor of Music at Messiah University. The livestream performance can be viewed here

Contact:

Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747