Erin Beeler, Tyler Dixon, Sarah Peachey, and Gretchen Crouse (left to right) pose during Music On Parade on March 1 at Mount Union Area High School. The annual concert brings together student musicians from across the district.
By LILY HICKS | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mount Union, Pa. — On March 1, 2026, the Mount Union music program held their annual Music On Parade event at Mount Union Area High School. Music On Parade is a concert that showcases all the performing musicians within the Mount Union Area School District. The band begins with a group performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and then each group has their own performances. The choir students also do a group performance during the concert. The band performers then come together to play the Mount Union Alma Mater to close out the show.
The program holds a special place in the heart of Mrs. Gretchen Crouse, who teaches elementary band and chorus. Her grandfather, J. Richard Burkholder, was a music director in the Mount Union School District for over forty years and was the founder of Music On Parade. Her grandmother also conducted Music On Parade, as well as her father, uncle, and aunt, who all performed in the program. She said, “I’ve heard so many stories over the years of these massive Music On Parade concerts. It’s special for me to continue their work while putting our modern spin on things. It’s even more special the last two years to have my daughter be part of it as well; four generations of Burkholders have been Music On Parade musicians. I would like to think that my Grandpap and Grandma would be very proud that Music On Parade continues, and I am most certain he would be proud of all the wonderful musicians that have come through Mount Union.”
Music On Parade has something to offer for both the audience and the students. Mrs. Crouse said that she “hopes the audience sees the scope of the budding musicians and the progress the students make during their time in the program.” She also mentioned that the growth between the time a musician is in fourth grade and the time they are a senior is tremendous. She would like the audience to recognize the amount of work that students are putting into their music and enjoy the show. The younger students get a chance to see the older students and what can come from hard work and dedication to music. The older students are also reminded of how they started when they have the chance to mentor the younger students.
The music directors also have something to gain from this experience. Mrs. Crouse said, “Seeing the kids proud of their performance and accomplishing their goal is always the most rewarding part. I really enjoy working with Mrs. Beeler (elementary music), Mr. Dixon (Jr./Sr. High Band), and Mrs. Peachey (Jr./Sr. High Choir), and Music On Parade is a concert where we all get to work a little more collaboratively than our usual Christmas and Spring concerts.” Mrs. Peachey added that she “loves seeing the progression of skill from elementary to senior high, which is one of my favorite parts about teaching music as a subject — we get to watch students grow over many years.”
March is Music in Our Schools Month, and the Mount Union music program uses Music On Parade to honor and recognize the importance of music, not only in school but in life in general. Mrs. Crouse believes that music is the soundtrack to our lives and is always present. She uses examples such as lullabies, “Happy Birthday,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Pomp and Circumstance,” walking down the aisle at your wedding, and everything in between to express just how important music really is. Mrs. Peachey says that music is not only important for itself, but it also helps create well-rounded students, which leads to them becoming better people in general. Together, Mrs. Crouse and Mrs. Peachey believe that programs like Music On Parade show the importance of music in daily life and help keep music programs from being put on the back burner.
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
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