In 1981, the trajectory of General McLane vocal music and theatre changed forever. The new chorus teacher and assistant band director, Richard Scaletta, took a program of less than twenty students and the rest, as they say is history. Mr. Scaletta would go on to become a principal and eventually the superintendent of General McLane. Meanwhile, Bruce Yates helmed the program for 35 years, growing the vocal program into one of great renown and hurtling the annual Broadway Dinner from a small cabaret to the largest fundraiser in the department. Thousands of students have passed through the chorus rooms of our district, and we hope to support them for years to come.
In the fall of 2023, Will Steadman, the new choral director at General McLane High School, gathered a devoted group of parents and community members to start a boosters organization for the Department of Vocal Music and Theatre. The need for developing supplemental support was clear, and soon the organization was founded. Now, the Friends of GM Vocal Music stands to be a resource for the community, alumni, and friends of the district to directly assist the endeavors of our choral musicians and thespians.
In the General McLane School District, vocal music and theatre are not only enriching activities, but much sought after curricular offerings. At James W. Parker Middle School, choruses swell into the 50s and 60s and are offered for each grade, 5th through 8th. At the high school, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble is composed of highly selected musicians, while Holiday Choir and Spring concert Choir offer more traditional choral settings for students to grow as vocalists. The annual Broadway Dinner is by far the most popular with class sizes ranging anywhere between 75-130 students in a given year. New in 2023, VOX GM is an extracurricular choir that affords students the opportunities to compete, travel, fundraise, and become ambassadors for our program. Students also participate in PMEA District, Region, and All-State Choruses, ACDA Eastern Region Honors Choirs, NAfME All-Eastern Chorus, and formerly NAfME All-National Chorus.
All financial support goes directly to enhancing the opportunities and experiences of our students. Checks can be made out to Friends of GM Vocal Music, located at 11761 Edinboro Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412. We encourage you to consider a recurring donation, much like a streaming service subscription, that can be automated through our PayPal link below. We can also be found on Zelle as Friends of GM Vocal Music.
