A heartfelt congratulations to the 210 talented students from the SAHS Performing Arts Department for their recent triumph in New York City. They competed alongside schools from
across the nation, participated in the prestigious 2025 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and received high praise from music professionals and educators alike. A diverse range of ensembles from the High School Band, Choir, and Orchestra programs showcased their skills on a national stage with the Performing Arts Consultant (PAC) at Felician University. These groups were adjudicated by distinguished professionals in their respective fields.
On March 17th, the final day of their trip, the Titan Marching Band had the honor of marching in the iconic 2025 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, this remarkable event attracted over 2 million spectators. Dating back to 1762—fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence—the parade stretched down Fifth Avenue, from East 44th Street to East 79th Street. Participating in such a historic celebration was truly an unforgettable experience. The band’s performance was broadcast live on NBC, FOX, CNN, and numerous other local and national news networks.
The judges’ written and verbal feedback will be carefully reviewed with the students, highlighting areas for improvement and for post-assessment. We take great pride in the exemplary behavior and outstanding performance demonstrated by our students.
Congratulations once again to them for their remarkable achievements across all performing groups. The students were not only evaluated with ratings (bronze, silver, gold) but also achieved recognition through placement within their competition categories and received additional accolades for top scores, including “Best in Class” and top overall scores, transcending competition categories.
Dr. Bryan O’Black, Superintendent of Schools, expressed, “I wanted to take a moment to express just how incredibly proud we are of our Shaler Area students who participated in the recent NYC High School Performing Arts Trip. Their dedication, talent, and teamwork were on full display, and it was truly an honor to see them represent our district in such a prestigious setting. We could not be prouder of the way they carried themselves with such poise and passion throughout the entire trip.”
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