BY ELIZABETH SOLENDAY

Staff Writer

For athletes, the ultimate goal is to make it to states. The same holds for students interested in music, and two Baldwin students recently did just that, as they traveled to Hershey to show off their musical talents in all-state concerts.
Stephen Tsambarlis, a senior, earned an invite to the 2016 PMEA Future Music Educator’s Honor Symposium.
Tsambarlis said the program was a great opportunity to prepare him for college. He plans to study music education at Baldwin Wallace’s Conservatory of Music.
“It was the best experience I’ve ever had dealing with music education,”
Tsambarlis said.
Tsambarlis has dedicated his life to his music, taking five music classes this year and also involving himself in Baldwinaires, the musical, and marching band. He plays piano for both the regular choir class and Baldwinaires.
Senior Gareth Allegrucci plays piano alongside Tsambarlis in both choirs and knows just how much effort he puts into it.
“Through music, I have seen Stephen grow as a person. He helps everyone he meets, inside the music department and out,” Allegrucci said.
Tsambarlis has been the drum major of the marching band for two years, and last year won the High Drum Major award for his talents in directing.
He was also strongly involved in the musical, this being his fourth year in the cast and his first year as the student director.
Meanwhile, Kevin Skinkis, a junior, qualified for All-State Orchestra for his trumpet skills.
Skinkis has played trumpet since the fourth grade, and has won multiple awards and qualified for many region and district bands and orchestras.
Now he plans on auditioning for All-East Orchestra and then moving onto the National Orchestra.
“I got the chance to play with so many talented and skilled musicians. I learned a lot from playing in a group that played so well,” Skinkis said.
Skinkis takes both symphonic and stage band, as well as being in both marching band and the pit orchestra for the musical.
Outside of school, Skinkis plays in the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra and Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.
Skinkis has given a lot of his life to playing the trumpet, but says he loves auditioning for different groups to better himself.
“It is really nice to play with musicians who are all very talented and have high standards of their music,” Skinkis said.