Senior electric guitar player Caden Stone rocked into MASD music history by being selected for two prestigious Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) events.
Caden was selected as one of 20 students from across Pennsylvania - and one of only five guitarists - to be part of the first-ever PMEA All-State Modern Band Ensemble. He is the only guitarist from PMEA District 7, which includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York Counties.
The self-taught musician, who has only been playing guitar for two years, was also selected for PMEA’s District 7 Modern Band Ensemble, a recognition achieved last year as well.
He said his favorite thing about music is being able to collaborate with friends, including bandmates from Nebula, who first played together at the 2025 District 7 Modern Band Festival.
After graduation, Caden plans to combine his academics and music talents at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and the Academy of Live Technology to study Live Experience Design and Production. His career choice came about after a school field trip to Rock Lititz, a production campus designed specifically for the live entertainment industry.
Both ensembles required an audition process, which included preparing two songs of contrasting style, demonstrating diversity of rhythmic and melodic playing, a lead guitar solo, and demonstrating chord use.
According to PMEA, Modern Band focuses on popular and commercial music. Styles studied include rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, rhythm & blues, electronic dance music, and other contemporary styles as they emerge. In addition to guitar, Modern Band utilizes musical instruments common to these genres, such as bass, drums, keyboard, voice, technology, and ukulele.
Mr. Sam Fisher, Middletown Area Middle School Music Teacher and Band Director, served on the PMEA District 7 Executive Board and was at the grassroots planning level to bring Modern Band to the District level, advocating for the genre to expand statewide.
Mr. Matthew Landrum, Middletown Area High School Marching, Concert, and Jazz Band Director, said Modern Band is a way reach talented musicians who may not otherwise be part of a larger, organized school band, like marching or concert band. This winter, Caden will lend his talents to the MAHS Indoor Percussion team.
The 2026 District 7 Modern Band Festival will take place April 10 - 11, at Spring Grove High School, and the All-State Modern Band will perform together on April 23, in the Poconos.
Best of luck, Caden, at the upcoming festivals! We know you’ll rock with Raider PRIDE!
