Embedded Files
Seniors Gracie Pennell and Lucille Spang serve as the student leaders of the newly formed Treble Ensemble. (Photo Credit: Natalie Schanck)
Female Singers Stirring Up Treble in TJ's New "Treble Ensemble"
Female Singers Stirring Up Treble in TJ's New "Treble Ensemble"
By Natalie Schanck
December 2025
During a normal day at Thomas Jefferson High School, the music wing is filled with collaborating students working in their classes to create music. Choir, band, and orchestra students work throughout the entire year on both their winter and spring showcases.
However, the music does not stop during the high school’s PLT. Many students have formed music ensembles that meet exclusively during this time. The newest of these ensembles is an all-female, primarily student-run group called the “Treble Ensemble.”
Unlike other music ensembles at TJ, such as jazz band, percussion, or men’s ensemble, this club was founded upon the basis of highlighting female performers. Before the club was founded in the 2024-25 school year, the music department offered specific groups for male voices, but not for female. According to the club’s sponsor, the high school’s choir director, Julie Lucci, “It was started in retaliation for the men’s ensemble.”
Although Treble Ensemble may have started as a female version of an already existing group, the club has grown to offer opportunities that a normal choir class would not have. Many members that attend the club are first-time choir performers that were previously unable to join a choir class due to scheduling conflicts. The unique feature of Treble Ensemble only meeting during PLT allows students involved in other music or academic classes to have the opportunity to still dedicate themselves to a choral group.
During a Treble Ensemble meeting, students gather in the choir room to discuss what they aim to accomplish during their allotted rehearsal time. Led by club presidents Gracie Pennell (senior) and Lucille Spang (senior), the club operates in a “majority rules” manner with the two presidents serving as mediators to guide conversations. All pieces of music performed by the club are collectively voted on by the members.
First-year Treble Ensemble member, Ava Lucas, notes, “I like that it is student-run because we have more control over what we do.” Once the members pick a piece, it is up to them to begin the process of learning music before they are able to put together a whole piece. In the rehearsal process, students will work together in smaller groups with their particular voice type to learn a piece. With the help of Lucci, the piece will be perfected until it is ready to perform.
The Treble Ensemble plans to perform at the Spring 2026 Choir Concert, but does not intend to stop there. With many underclassman members of Treble Ensemble, the club hopes to continue on as a fully functioning club. According to Spang, “I definitely could see it being a nice club where people are able to kind of let go of the stress of a big group choir, to have fun and get the chance to sing the things they love.”
Anyone looking to join the Treble Ensemble must go through an audition process to determine their placement. Every student audition is evaluated by Lucci, as she decides which students will join the ensemble. Auditions are held towards the beginning of the school year, in order to give the students enough time to select music and create a rehearsal schedule.
The success of this group remains in the hands of Thomas Jefferson music students, with many hoping to cement itself permanently into the music department.
The 2026 Prime Stage Awards: Celebrating TJ Theater
The 2026 Prime Stage Awards: Celebrating TJ Theater
By Danny Flatley
January 2026
The success of Thomas Jefferson High School’s theater has been well documented over the years, including sold out shows and numerous Gene Kelly Awards. To some members of the community, our theater program is just as strong as our football program. But, the spring musical is not the only production. Nor is the Gene Kelly’s the only award show.
The Prime Stage Awards are like the Gene Kelly’s: a fun award show celebrating local high school’s fall plays. Schools are nominated across 16 categories including technical, acting, and overall best show. In January, our very own TJ Theater will be up for seven of these awards.
TJ’s fall play, “Those Who Remain Turn the Pages,” was a mysterious thriller with supernatural elements like a zombie apocalypse, a vampire overrun, and an unknown monster lurking around the town. The audience had the unique ability to decide the fate of the monster. Yea or Nay? Each night of the show, the audience chose a different path by casting their votes on a slip of paper. The audience on October 30th did not get the same ending as November 2nd. For those involved in the show, the mystery and anticipation of each night added to the overall excitement for the show, making it as thrilling for those on stage as it was for the audience.
On December 10, TJ was nominated for Student Director, Costumes, Makeup, Lights, Sound, Props, and Run Crew. Senior and Head of Makeup Jillian Droppa is particularly excited for her award. “I think we definitely came through with the special effects makeup.” The zombie apocalypse required zombie makeup, and the bloody, bruised look on seven characters was more than enough to deserve this nomination. Adding on the constraint of a 15 minute intermission, the beautifully disgusting outcome of the zombie look was a feat of TJ Theater. This is the award nomination that has our school on the edge of their seats.
On January 10th, TJ and all other high schools nominated attended the award show at Shadyside Academy. In between awards, shows nominated for overall best show performed scenes for others schools to see. “I feel like it’s started to sort of form a community with some of the other schools,” says Julie Tipton, director of the play. It’s not a comparison of who did better than who, but rather a celebration of all that high school theater is capable of doing. Students with an interest in drama sharing that interest with others like them.
Although TJ did not bring home any awards this year, it was still a wonderful opportunity to celebrate TJ Theater alongside other Pittsburgh-area schools.
Madison Sheehan, Olivia Rubel, and Gianna Cardillo gather together before the end-of-year showcase on May 1, 2025 in the TJ choir room. (Photo courtesy of the Dance Club Instagram account)
TJ Welcomes New Dance Club
TJ Welcomes New Dance Club
By Brenna Reed
May 2025 (updated Jan. 2026)
For the first time in its history, Thomas Jefferson High School has taken a bold step into the world of performance arts with the launch of the TJ Dance Club. Until the 2024-25 school year, dance had no official presence at the school. The idea of a dance club was originally pitched by alumna Sabrina Reed in 2022, but the club was rejected due to it being too similar to the cheer team. That changed in 2025.
The newly formed club, created by 2025 graduates Callie Dailey and Peyton Oeler, brought together approximately 30 students with diverse skill levels and creative perspectives. Over the course of the 2024-25 school year, members collaborated to choreograph original routines, resulting in a vibrant end-of-the-year recital that showcased their hard work and passion.
The formation of the TJ Dance Club was brought to life through dedication and teamwork. Callie Dailey, a 2025 TJ alumna and the club’s founder, recalls how the idea began during a long car ride home from vacation: “I was bored and listening to music and thought it would make a fun dance, leading to the idea of the club,” she explained. After posting the idea on her social media and receiving enthusiastic support, Dailey began the official process of creating the club. She reached out to Dr. Erikka Kuhse, an assistant principal at the time, and was asked to submit a proposal, collect data, and go through several steps.
Though it wasn’t technically recognized as an official club at first, the process was easier than expected. Once approved, Dailey and co-founder Peyton Oeler began building a team that reflected the club’s collaborative spirit. The 2024-25 officers like Nadia Stella (Vice President), Michaela Wetzel (Secretary), Elizabeth Hanson (Treasurer), and Brenna Reed (Public Relations) played essential roles in managing logistics, tracking attendance, organizing fundraisers, and promoting the club on social media.
Each officer’s contribution helped transform a simple idea into a fully functioning dance group that not only brought students together but also laid the foundation for what Dailey hopes will evolve into an official dance team in the future.
While the TJ Dance Club was primarily driven by student initiative, the support of faculty sponsor Julie Lucci, the school’s choir teacher, played a crucial role in its success.
Lucci was initially hesitant to take on the role, noting, “I’m not a dancer.” But she ultimately agreed because she was excited to help students create a platform to showcase their talents. As the club began planning its first dance recital, Lucci was impressed by the club’s leadership team: “It was completely student-led, very thorough,” she said.
To prepare for the end-of-the-year show, the club organized fundraisers like a donut sale during school hours and a bake sale at the recital which helped cover the costs of T-shirts and other essentials. Students also committed to multiple rehearsals, including a full after-school dress rehearsal. Lucci highlighted the behind-the-scenes contributions of students like junior Andrew Horvath and 2025 graduate Tristan Smith, who helped with lighting and sound for the event.
Reflecting on the final performance, she praised both the students and the administration, saying, “I think it was wonderful; I am happy to sponsor it.”
The Dance Club meets on Thursdays during PLTs A and B in the choir room. The 2025-26 officers are Elizabeth Hanson (President), Chloe Bobak (Vice President), Kaitlyn Hanson (Secretary/Treasurer), and Evalynne Rowan and Leah Filmore (Public Relations). Students who are interested in becoming involved in the Dance Club can contact Mrs. Lucci at jlucci@wjhsd.net.
Arts & Entertainment Editor: Danny Flatley
Arts & Entertainment Editor: Danny Flatley
Danny is a senior at TJ and Stage Manager for TJ theater who plans to attend Penn West University this fall with a dual major in Biology and Media Arts.
Do you have original work you want to see here? Send any compositions (poetry or prose) and/or artwork to both Danny (of98638@students.wjhsd.net) and Mrs. Kaszonyi (lkaszonyi@wjhsd.net) for a chance to be published in our next edition!
Page updated
Report abuse