Student renews first-chair status at Intercollegiate Band Festival

A plastics & polymer engineering technology student was again chosen to represent Penn College at the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival, which marked its 75th anniversary this year.

Zachary J. Geffre, of Loyalsock Township, who is due to graduate with a bachelor's degree in May, was in a handpicked group of Pennsylvania's best college musicians: 115 students tasked with learning and performing very challenging music in just three days.

This year's festival was at Mansfield University, where the band played the world premiere of two pieces – one of them the work of an experienced Hollywood composer.

"I was able to do this through the support of many Penn College administration members, as well as cooperation with Lycoming College's Music Department, to help share resources for transportation, housing and cost coverage for the event," Geffre said. The musician performed on double bass, winning (as he did last year) a first-chair position through an audition process.