Schools across the division have been celebrating a host of musical awards and achievements as they head into summer.
George Mason Elementary School fifth-grade band and orchestra received first place at the Six Flags Music in the Park Competition. Both groups also received the overall Esprit De Corps Award due the band’s dedication on and off the stage, fellowship to other bands and professionalism throughout the day.
Congratulations to Heather Rosner, the band director at George Mason Elementary School for becoming a Quarterfinalist for Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum!
George Washington Middle School String Orchestra received first place in their division and was named Best Overall String Orchestra at the Music in the Parks Orchestra Festival at Hershey Park. They also have been selected to be a demo orchestra at the Virginia Music Education Association Conference this fall.
T.C. Williams High School Band and Choir won Grand Overall Champion titles at the FiestaVal Music Festival Competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, while the orchestra, Colore Dolce Choir and Wind Ensemble won Division Championships. The T.C. Williams Advanced Choir/Colore Dolce will perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association showcase this fall.
TC Williams also received the Virginia Music Educators Association Blue Ribbon Award for the fourth year. This is an award that is presented to schools that have the choir, band and orchestra to secure superior ratings at state district assessments in March.
Francis C. Hammond Middle School Concert Choir received first place in the Music in the Parks Festival, while their bands received superior ratings at the Music in the Parks Festival at Hershey Park. The Concert Orchestra and Festival Orchestra received superior and excellent ratings at the Festivals of Music Competition in New York and the Music in the Parks Competition in Hershey Park.
Francess Pombor and Angie Sosa-Alvarenga, two students from Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology received a rating of excellent at the Virginia Band and Orchestras Directors Association District 10 Solo/ Ensemble Festival.
Five students from Matthew Maury Elementary School received superior ratings at the Virginia Band and Orchestras Directors Association District 10 Solo/ Ensemble Festival.
John Adams Elementary School’s Orff Ensemble, part of the Sympatico Music Group which partners with Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, performed at the George Washington Masonic Memorial to kick off the Alexandria Kids’ Concert. The ensemble played to raise money to benefit programs for children in need in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Alexandria.
Congratulations to all our amazing musicians!