North Hills High School music students recently traveled to Virginia for their annual performance tour during which they competed in the Music in the Parks festival at Williamsburg.
The annual music department tour serves as a culminating experience for our students and teachers by providing feedback that drives future instruction and learning.
Over 250 students from the bands, choirs and orchestras performed for each other, shared beach time together at Virginia Beach and spent a day at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for the awards ceremony.
A total of 10 North Hills ensembles took part in the adjudication festival, which included students from 26 school districts spanning eight states.
North Hills ensembles earned ratings and ranks as follows:
- Marching Band - Superior/1st Place
- Jazz Band - Superior/1st Place
- Wind Symphony - Superior/1st Place
- Symphonic Concert Band - Excellent/2nd Place
- Wind Ensemble - Superior/3rd Place
- Chamber Orchestra - Superior/2nd Place
- String Orchestra - Excellent/1st Place
- Chorale - Superior/1st Place
- Symphonic Choir - Superior/2nd Place
- North Hills Singers - Superior/1st Place
- Best Overall Jazz Band - Jazz Band
- Best Overall Parade Band - Marching Band
- Best Overall Choir - North Hills Singers
- Best Student Accompanist - Paige Rossi, flute player with Symphonic Choir
Along with around two dozen volunteer chaperones, nurses and band staff, North Hills music teachers accompanying the students included band directors Len Lavelle and Lucas Beaver, choral director Shaun Cloonan, orchestra directors Nick Vranesevic and Allie Craig, middle/high school music teacher Matt Hickly, and elementary music teacher Maura Rushlander.
Video of the performances can be found below. Congratulations to our students!