The parking lot at Baldwin High School was transformed into a music and art festival for two hours Friday afternoon, as students took part in the High School Nation tour.

Headliner Drake Bell, however, was a no show to the free music-themed event, which left some students disappointed. This is the second time in the last year that Bell, known best for his role in Nickelodeon's “Drake & Josh,” failed to attend an event at Baldwin High School.

Bell, responding on Twitter to students' frustrated Tweets, said he had a “very busy schedule” and had to cancel all of his High School Nation shows last week.

Plans are for Bell to visit Baldwin High School within the next eight weeks for a lunchtime concert, said High School Nation founder Jimmy Cantillon said.

The performers that did take the stage at Baldwin included RCA Records recording artist Jacob Latimore, Streamsound Records country artist Dakota Bradley, pop singer Noelle Bean and pop/rock band Nikos.

The purpose of the Los Angeles-based High School Nation is to show that “cutting the arts and cutting the music in public schools is not the answer,” Cantillon said. The event helps to introduce students to careers in the arts, he said.

Cantillon started by bringing musical acts into schools for lunch-time performances about 10 years ago. Two years ago, the High School Nation Tour, sponsored by Pepsi, was launched.

“We've been to every corner of the country — 80 cities … From Seattle to Miami, San Diego and Boston” Cantillon said.

This was the second consecutive year that Baldwin High School was selected for the High School Nation tour. Baldwin is the only school in Pennsylvania that the free festival is visiting in 2014. Sponsors also donate nearly $10,000 in musical equipment to the school or students selected to host the tour.

Cantillon said he wanted to return to Baldwin for the second year because he had fond memories of last year's festival.

“They were just so great,” he said. “At the end of it all, there was a downpour, and everyone stayed where they were, dancing to music and singing along.”

Students at Baldwin enjoyed all aspects of the festival.

“It's like a concert. I like it. It's different than my normal eighth period,” said freshman Maria Perallo, 14. “It's like nothing I've ever heard before.”

“It's a really great time for everyone to come together and appreciate the arts,” said senior Lauren Margliotti, 18.

Sophomore David Rivera, 15, said his favorite part of the day was getting to play the drums. “I'm learning how to open my mind to music,” he said.

Student journalists had the chance to enter the “media zone” where they interviewed the performers, choreographers and photographers, Cantillon said. Students even had the opportunity to tour the Gibson Guitars' Tour Bus, where Beyonce once visited.

“I think it's a great opportunity to expose kids to all areas of the arts,” said Baldwin Highlander Marching band director Greg Steele. “It just gets them excited about it.”

Stephanie Hacke is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-388-5818 or shacke@tribweb.com.

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