Feb. 29, 2016: On Saturday, Feb. 27, six North Branford High School (NBHS) instrumentalists participated in the First Chair High School Honor Band Festival at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) in Storrs.

NBHS musicians performed alongside other students in Connecticut who are "first chair" in their school ensembles. First chair musicians are a band or orchestra's premier musician, performing leads, and often solos, due to their talent playing a particular instrument.

In addition to playing at UCONN's von der Mehden Recital Hall, the NBHS students also participated in Master Classes with UConn Music Faculty on Feb. 27. The annual day-long festival is part of UCONN's School of Fine Arts Outreach and Community programming.

Participating NBHS instrumentalists were  Makayla Harrison, Sarah Criscuolo, Brooke Powers, Courtney McNelis, Abby Raucci, and Marissa Berthiaume.