About Us

Welcome to the Mechanicsburg Music Alliance (MMA) Website

Our Mission
The MMA is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to promote and support all music programs throughout the Mechanicsburg Area School District.

Why is music so important?
Studies across the world have shown that music education holds many benefits such as improved SAT scores, lower drop out rates and improved self esteem. A Gallup Poll showed that 95% of the people responding thought music and the arts were part of a well balanced education

MASH Music Accomplishments
Every year, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) presents awards to the best communities for music education across the US. Mechanicsburg during the past 5 years has been presented this award almost every year

Marching Band
The Marching Band has been awarded first place regional titles for several years, including TOB Chapter 6 Champions, Atlantic Coast Champions, and US Bands State Champions. This past fall the Marching Band won the US BANDS National Championship at MetLife Stadium after placing 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd the three previous years.

Indoor Guard
Mechanicsburg Indoor Color Guard has grown from a handful of high school students in 1997, to three Color Guard teams that include students from 5th to 12th grade. Since the programs inception the Mechanicsburg Indoor Guard has reached the highest levels of success, both on a local and national level. The High School Guard, which is the most experienced of the three teams , now competes on a national level, and is one of only 30 World class Guards in the country. On April 9th 2016 the World Class Guard from Mechanicsburg again place in the top 10 nationally and for a second consecutive year won “FAN FAVORITE”.

Orchestra
The MASH orchestra includes string players in grades 6-12 as well as select winds/brass/percussion students who join us several times a year for full orchestra selections. Members of the orchestra have been chosen every year for the prestigious PMEA District 7 Orchestra festivals and many have advanced on to the Regional, All-State and All-Eastern level festivals. Every three to four years, the orchestra holds a concerto competition to showcase a high level performer. The winner of the concerto competition receives the honor of performing a piece with the full orchestra. In past years we have had two winners. Olivia Hess performed the Saint-Seans Piano Concerto No. 2 in g minor with the MASH orchestra in the 2014 Spring concert and in the fall of 2015, Allison Conrad performed the Saint-Seans Cello Concerto in a minor. The Chamber Ensemble is an auditioned group of around 16 string players that prepare and perform higher level chamber ensemble repertoire in our concerts. There are also two string quartets that get together regularly to rehearse music and perform in community functions including business banquets and luncheons, concerts, weddings, and commencement. The MMS Orchestras are flourishing. The 6th and 7th/8th grade orchestras have participated in the Cumberland County Middle School Orchestra festival at Eagle View Middle School. They received top scores from the judges and were the “talk of the festival.” Twelve students across 6th through 8th grade traveled to Lower Dauphin High School for the PMEA District 7 honors orchestra festival on April 12th and worked with guest conductors over the course of the day and performed a concert for a large audience. There are also chamber orchestras in each grade level at the middle school and they perform at concerts throughout the year.

Indoor Percussion
The MASH Percussion Unit is currently on a 11 year undefeated streak in local competitions. They are 3 time WGI finalists, and 7 time KIDA Champions. In 2014, they were promoted to Scholastic Open Class and later competed in WGI Championships in Dayton, OH.

Jazz Ensemble
The MASH Jazz Ensemble was chosen for the honor of performing at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Annual Conference. MASH always has numerous students audition into PMEA District Band and a few students audition into PMEA District Jazz Band! Of these, we always have some selected to move on into Region Band, and even go all the way to the PMEA State Honor Band.

Chorus
MASH Chorus is filled with highly talented young women and men, many of whom also play with other groups like Marching Band and Percussion. In addition to MASH’s own concert series, they sing at other events at local schools and public venues. This group is truly “in tune” with their music.