Members of North Branford High School (NBHS) music programs made beautiful music recently at a national competition, taking home the top rating of “Excellent” for all groups involved including jazz band, concert band, chamber choir, and concert choir.

The music students participated in the Festivals of Music national competition in Washington, D.C. The NBHS groups’ ratings and awards included:

NBHS Jazz Band: Excellent rating, Second Place Award; NBHS Concert Band: Excellent rating, Fifth Place Award; NBHS Chamber Choir: Excellent rating, Fourth Place Award and NBHS Concert Choir: Excellent rating, Second Place Award.

This is the first time in NBHS history that all ensembles have received an Excellent rating across the board in one competition, according to NBHS Principal Todd Stoeffler.

During the trip, the NBHS Concert Band also took the stage in competition at Northern Virginia Community College, where many military bands perform, noted Stoeffler.

While in Washington, D.C., the student musicians took in a performance of the National Symphony at Washington D.C.’s famed Kennedy Center. The group also visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and made a walking tour of five national monuments.