BHS band and orchestra bring back trophies

BHS band and orchestra officers display band and orchestra awards during a recent music festival in Virginia Beach. From left are: Mike Boerner, orchestra president; Mary Puchalski, band treasurer; Christyna Cain, band secretary; Stephanie Edwards, band president; Emily Partridge, orchestra vice president; Greg Strabel, band vice president; Elise Bevan, oboe soloist.

BHS band and orchestra bring back trophies

The Brockport High School Band and Orchestra recently performed in the Fiesta-val Music Festival at Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. Five groups performed. The Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band received numerous Awards of Excellence and the Wind Ensemble and Blue Notes garnered Awards of Superior ranking. The combined scoring for the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble earned Brockport the distinction of "Concert Band/Wind Ensemble Champion" out of the seven bands in the festival. In addition to these group awards, oboe soloist Elise Bevan received special commendation for her performance in the Wind Ensemble's program.

While in Virginia Beach, the students took in some history and sites. They toured the Nauticus Navy History Museum, the USS Wisconsin battleship, the Virginia Aquarium, The Oceana Naval Air Base, took a dinner boat cruise on the Elizabeth River aboard the Spirit of Norfolk and visited Busch Gardens. Band Directors Shawn Halquist and Andrew Stoker and Orchestra Director Cathy Gurnett accompanied the 190 students along with 28 chaperones.