I recently caught up with several standout musicians from the Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band. Some were packing for college, others had just landed on campus, and a few were driving home from high school or unwinding after rehearsals. Different stages of life, same shared mission: making music together at a remarkably high level.
The Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band is a project of the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame (CPMHOF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to youth music education.
“Managed by the nonprofit organization is the Central Pennsylvania All-Star Band program; it showcases some of Central PA’s most talented artists ages 18 and under,” said CPMHOF founder Brandon Valentine.
Launched in 2023, the talent project made an immediate splash with their cover version of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley,” featuring the talents of Addi Grace, Amani Weary, Carmine Gontz, Noah Gibney, Faith Noel, Alex Lee Warner, Levi Dickinson and Ethan Valentine. The video racked up more than 100,000 views on YouTube and caught the attention of original Who members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Townshend shared it on social media, and Daltrey sent a reaction video praising the teens’ version as “the most amazing video. I loved it!”
Each year, the all-star band records new tracks and music videos with a rotating lineup of vocalists and instrumentalists. Every note recorded is performed by these dedicated teenagers. Sessions take place at respected studios across Central Pennsylvania and are filmed by professional videographers, giving students real-world experience in collaborative music production and performance.
In 2024, the group tackled Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” featuring Virginia Franks of Burn The Jukebox; Juliet; Ava Karlita of Kopper and Kash; Julia Denne; C.Z. Moe; Ethan Valentine; Ismael; and returning members Grace, Gibney, Dickinson and Warner. The track appears on Joy to the Burg, a local holiday music compilation that supports homeless women and children. The annual concert is typically held each December.
In 2025, members Gontz, Gibney, Dickinson, Warner and Valentine took on Rush’s “Tom Sawyer,” mastering the progressive rock classic with an all-male lineup – and earning a nod from Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who noticed the video on YouTube.
Next up: an all-female rendition of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” featuring first-timers Izzy Butters, Sameeha Gaind, Penny Shaw, Brynn Brossman, Caitlin Shorey, Lucy Trout, Virginia Franks, Addi Grace, Julia Denne, and Addily Park. Organizers hope the track reaches Swift, born in West Reading, Pa., as the hall continues to celebrate artists with roots in the region.
Artist spotlights from recent conversations with band members:
Virginia Franks
At 18, actor, vocalist and bassist Franks is balancing campus life at Marywood University with a growing music career in teen rock band Burn The Jukebox. She built a strong presence on TikTok and YouTube and credits her school with helping her juggle shows and classwork. On screen, she’s appeared in several films, most recently “Batman vs. Superman: A Parody of Justice” (2017). With the All-Star Band, she’s featured on “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and the forthcoming “You Belong With Me.” A favorite live tune with her band: Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow.”
Julia Denne
Singer-songwriter Denne released her debut album, “Long Story Short,” alongside a string of singles, building an audience of roughly 4.8k online. She started writing in her bedroom; standout originals include “Never Be Like Her,” “Never Happened” and “You Should Know.” Now at West Chester University, she performs from coffeehouses to clubs, plays piano and guitar, and appears on the All-Star Band’s “You Belong With Me.” Among her go-to covers: Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license.”
Addi Grace
Sixteen-year-old vocalist and guitarist Addi Grace, from the Lebanon, Pa., area, has quickly grown a large social media following. A two-time Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Best Youth Artist winner, she’s already shared the stage with Poison frontman Bret Michaels of nearby Mechanicsburg and made a guest appearance with country-rock band Cold Spring Union at the West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland. With the All-Star Band, she’s featured on “Baba O’Riley” and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and appears on the upcoming “You Belong With Me,” slated for release in 2026. In 2024, she dropped her first original single, “Not Gonna Make It,” on all major platforms. She cites Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl as a major influence. Catch her at venues across the region; Instagram: @addigracesmiles.
Ethan Valentine
The All-Star Band’s drummer, Ethan Valentine, plays on all the group’s tracks and frequently sits in with local acts. He has even filled in for his father, Brandon Valentine, who is the drummer for Cold Spring Union and founder of the CPMHOF. A Rush devotee, Ethan especially loved recording “Tom Sawyer,” and says meeting everyone during “Baba O’Riley” was a highlight. Based in the Harrisburg area, he’s a 16-year-old high school junior, steadily honing his craft and planning to start his own band. Instagram: @cpmdrummer.
Alex Lee Warner
Hailing from York, Pa., Alex Lee Warner, 16, is a blues/rock guitarist endorsed by Twin Dix Guitars and SIT Strings. A four-time CPMHOF guitar award winner, he’s also nominated for Guitarist of the Year 2025 by the Josie Music Awards. He appears on all four All-Star Band tracks and has a soft spot for the earworm “Baba O’Riley.” A tune he especially identifies with: “Slide Show” by The Aristocrats. Recently, he performed at Rock Fest at Hollywood Casino in Grantville on a bill with Stone Temple Pilots and Hinder. He’s playing solo shows, gearing up for Fall Fest and Choctoberfest in Hershey, then heading to Nashville for the Josie Music Awards. Enrolled in cyber school to match his busy calendar, he’s building toward a full band and side projects.
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A new generation of artists is learning to grow up onstage – meeting in rehearsal rooms and studios, swapping riffs and ideas, and discovering their voices together. Between school days and late-night sessions, they’re balancing classes with gigs, building confidence and mastering the unglamorous parts of the craft: showing up prepared, listening, collaborating and lifting each other up. Mentors, rotating lineups and hands-on recording and performance give them a crash course in professionalism, while social media turns moments into milestones. Along the way, friendships form, artistry deepens and a shared belief takes root: Music is a team sport, and the journey is as transformative as the applause.
Contact the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame at (717) 607-1100 or cpmhof@yahoo.com for more information on the all-star band.