North Hills music students travel to Ohio, compete in Music in the Parks

North Hills High School music students traveled to Ohio on May 17-19 for their annual performance tour during which they competed in the Music in the Parks festival at Sandusky Intermediate School and Sandusky High School. 

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, attended the awards ceremony at Cedar Point, spent another full day in the park with some beach time on Lake Erie, then visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before returning home.

A total of 10 North Hills ensembles took part in the adjudication festival, which included students from 19 schools spanning four 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 - Superior/2nd Place
• Wind Ensemble - Superior/1st Place
• Chamber Orchestra - Superior/2nd Place
• String Orchestra - Excellent/1st Place
• Chorale - Superior/1st Place
• Symphonic Choir - Superior/3rd Place
• North Hills Singers - Superior/1st Place

(Wind Symphony & Symphonic Concert Band and Symphonic Choir & North Hills Singers competed against each other in their respective categories)

• Best Overall Jazz Band - Jazz Band
• Best Overall Concert Band - Wind Ensemble
• Best Overall Parade Band - Marching Band
• Best Overall Jazz Soloist - Aidan Allen, trombone

Along with around two dozen volunteer chaperones, nurses and band staff, North Hills music teachers accompanying the students included band directors Len Lavelle, Lucas Beaver, and Tom Hartwell, choral director Shaun Cloonan, orchestra directors Nick Vranesevic and Allie Craig, middle/high school music teacher Matt Hickly, and elementary music teacher Maura Rushlander.

Congratulations to our students!