GASD MUSIC Faculty

HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY

Mrs. Bayko - High School Choral Director

Mrs. Erin Smith Bayko graduated Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and a major concentration in Voice and Trumpet.  At IUP, her principal teachers were Dr. Calvin Weber, trumpet; Dr. John Dietz, voice; Dr. Carol Teti, organ; and Mr. James Dearing and Dr. Jack Stamp, conducting. She received a Master's Degree in Music Education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from The Pennsylvania State University (PSU). Additionally, she has presented her Master's Research on Choral Repertoire Selection Criteria at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association state conference. 

Mrs. Bayko is a teacher and performer of vocal, trumpet, organ, and piano music. Equally adept in vocal and instrumental music, she has previously been on the faculty of the Cumberland Valley School of Music, has performed with the Johnstown Symphony, Shippensburg University Community Orchestra, IUP Wind Ensemble, IUP Chorale and Chamber Singers, IUP Symphony Orchestra, IUP faculty brass quintet, IUP Music Theater, and has served as a brass adjudicator for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.   As a trumpet player, Mrs. Bayko premiered and recorded a solo for trumpet and concert band by Timothy Broege.  She also premiered the mezzo-soprano solos in a newly discovered historical choral work for the American Musicological Society Conference in Pittsburgh. She has also completed post-graduate work in choral conducting and remains active as a performer and conductor in the community and state, including guest conducting the Franklin-Fulton County Chorus on two occasions.

Mrs. Bayko also serves as the Director of Music Ministries at The Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring in Chambersburg, where she directs the adult choir and is the church organist and pianist.  Before coming to GASD, Mrs. Bayko taught music for 27 years in the Chambersburg Area School District.  Mrs. Bayko's professional organizations are National Association for Music Education, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Education Association, American Guild of Organists, and American Choral Directors Association.

She is a native of Mercersburg, PA, and her hobbies include cooking, reading, watching Penn State football, collecting antiques, amateur photography, and traveling with her husband, Mark. 

Mr. Smith-High School Band Director

Mr. Joshua Michael Smith, conductor and clarinetist, holds a Master’s of Music from Ohio University in Instrumental Conducting, and Bachelors degrees from Shepherd University in Music Education and Music Performance. With experience working with wind and string ensembles, Mr. Smith has conducted numerous concert bands, orchestras, marching ensembles, and chamber groups ranging from 4 to 200+ people from beginning instrumentalists to professionals. Notably, Mr. Smith has conducted the Hagerstown Municipal Band, Ohio University Marching 110, and co-founded Dissonant Collective – a chamber ensemble devoted to interdisciplinary performance, among other ensembles.

As an avid performer in addition to conductor, Josh has played clarinet with numerous groups including the Charles Washington Symphony Orchestra and Hagerstown Municipal Band. Mr. Smith also has performed in chamber groups performing new music and most recently a full performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. Mr. Smith has also given solo recitals and creates innovative programming to engage with a variety of audience types. 

Before working at Greencastle-Antrim High School, Mr. Smith worked at James Buchanan High School and in Washington, DC. Prior to graduate school, Mr. Smith worked as the Artistic Operations Manager at The American Pops Orchestra in Washington, DC. With APO, Mr. Smith led efforts for virtual, educational outreach tours that reached over 10,000 students in schools in 43 states and DC as well as NextGen National, a collegiate voice competition featuring the voices of tomorrow from Colleges and Universities across the US. Mr. Smith has also assisted in the organization and production planning and execution of numerous concerts and productions including five PBS productions featuring performers such as Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, Audra McDonald, and Patti LaBelle, among others.

Mr. Smith is originally from Baltimore, MD and has lived and worked in Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. In addition to music, Mr. Smith participates in amateur competitive ESports, coaches and participates in sports (baseball, soccer, and badminton), enjoys disc golf, reading, chess, and spending time with his partner, Alex.

MIDDLE  SCHOOL FACULTY

Mrs. Byers - Middle School Choral Director

Mrs. Emily Byers graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cairn University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Pre-K-12) with a major concentration in Voice. During her time in college, Mrs. Byers was involved in multiple ensembles including the Chorale, the Chamber Singers, the Wind Ensemble (where she played the alto saxophone), and the Opera Theater program. Mrs. Byers continues to perform professionally in Franklin County with the Towne Singers of Chambersburg and the Mercersburg Area Community Chorus. She also serves on the praise team at Westside Brethren in Christ Church in Chambersburg. Mrs. Byers is a member of the professional organizations National Association for Music Education, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and National Education Association.

Hailing from Honesdale, PA in the Poconos, Mrs. Byers now resides in Chambersburg, PA where she lives with her husband. Mrs. Byers has been a lover of music for her whole life and loves listening to music, singing, playing the saxophone, and watching and performing in musicals. Besides her musical activities, she enjoys reading, sewing, going on walks, playing board games, and playing video games.

Mr. Vincenti- Middle  School Band Director

Mr. Peter Vincenti is a 2002 graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School.  He studied percussion education and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.  Peter received a Bachelor's Degree of Music with a focus in Education (classical percussion and cello) with endorsements in Instrumental and Choral Music. Along with teaching in numerous high school and middle school band, choir and orchestra programs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas and most recently Virginia, Mr. Vincenti has maintained a steady arranging and composing work load; mostly with high school marching band and indoor percussion ensembles.  Peter has performed with numerous professional orchestras and wind ensembles in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.  Mr. Vincenti's devotion to helping people achieve at their highest capacity has paved the way for him to be an active percussion clinician as well as being an adjudicator for district, regional and state band and orchestra auditions, marching band competitions, state assessment concerts and competitive ensembles.

Mr. Vincenti has professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Educators, the Percussive Arts Society and the national professional  percussion fraternity Phi Boota roota.  He resides in Chambersburg with his wife, son and daughter, mini-labradoodle and one gigantic St. Bernard. 

K-5 FACULTY

Mrs. Balascik -Elementary Music/5th Grade Band

Mrs. Alyson Balascik is a flutist who graduated from Lycoming College with a degree in Music Education. She has earned a Master of Music Education from Shepherd University. A native of Juniata County, she taught in Frederick County, MD for one year before moving to Franklin County to teach in Greencastle. Mrs. Balascik teaches privately in Greencastle.

Mrs. Bietsch - Primary Music

Mrs. Amanda Bietsch is a flutist who received a Master of Education from Wilson College and Bachelor of Music Education (Flute Concentration) from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher, Level I-III from George Mason University. Mrs. Bietsch performs with professional groups in the area to include the Mercersburg Community Chorus Chamber Orchestra, Hagerstown Municipal Band, the Non-Violent Ferns (a folk-rock group), CVSM String Quartet, and teaches private flute and violin lessons through the Cumberland Valley School of Music. Professional organizations include: American Orff-Schulwerk Association, National Association for Music Education, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the National Education Association.