Philipsburg teens turn up the volume on local music scene
PHILIPSBURG — There is a lot of music being made in Philipsburg — and it is being made mostly by teen musicians.
Five young people who live in Philipsburg-Osceola School District have been making music together under the name “Labyrinth” since the summer of 2024 — and have performed publicly for a total of 18 shows so far.
Jon Phillippi, owner of Little Town Music Academy in Philipsburg, formed the band and manages it. Phillippi, who graduated from Penn State in 1998, schedules the teens’ music lessons, band rehearsals and performances.
“I’ve been helping them build a live show, so they can be a working band doing shows in the area for festivals and events all around Central Pennsylvania,” Phillippi said.
Labyrinth, described as an Emo/Metal Fusion/Pop-funk band, is one of eight youth/teen bands that Philippi manages.
(Little Town Music Academy) all began with a single lesson in Phillippi’s home in 2006.
“From that humble start, the journey grew into something far beyond anything I could have imagined,” Phillippi said. “What started as sharing my love of music blossomed into a community built on performance, collaboration, and the joy of creating together.”
Labyrinth consists of lead singer Avah Hill, vocals/rhythm guitar Ozzy Conaway, lead guitar Kenny Fetzer, bass guitar Sam Massung and drummer Cooper Butterworth. Fetzer graduated from high school in 2025, and Butterworth is the youngest, expected to graduate in 2030.
The band was originally named “Work in Progress.” but recently changed its name to Labyrinth.
The group felt WiP was a beginner’s name, and it was already used by other bands. They chose Labyrinth because it was the name of a movie starring David Bowie, which is where they got the inspiration.
Currently, the band mostly plays covers of songs by well-known artists, but they are currently working on their own music as well. The band also filmed a full music video last year on YouTube.
Ironically, the bandmates didn’t really know each other when Phillippi put them together.
Three of them were in Philipsburg-Osceola Marching band together but knew little of each other. But over time, the members bonded and became friends.
What people see today is a band that features a two-hour show set list that includes “Holiday” by Green Day, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, and countless others.
The band rehearses at the Academy with their coach once a week, sharing the band room time with all the other working bands and their coaches. The band room is typically in use six days a week.
Phillippi said the feedback from spectators is hugely positive.
“You can bet that youth/teen bands can bring a lot of people for shows. Family and friends are a big supporting role, along with community members that love live music,” Phillippi said. “When you have young musicians performing at an adult level, it’s absolutely amazing; as well it shows that there are musicians in the area that are nipping at the heels of the older tribe . . . (like myself) and makes us work harder.”
Labyrinth plans to continue to play shows around Central Pennsylvania, Phillippi said.
The other teen/youth bands Phillippi manages are Standby (Grunge/Metal Fusion); Revival (Pop); Verdant Amber (Rock); Redeemed (Christian Rock); Deadliners (Punk); Periodic M (Pop/Rock); and Toxic Abyss (Pop/Rock).
The Academy teaches over 100 students — kids and adults — every week with nine instructors on staff.
