CARLSBAD–Several dozen middle and upper school students from Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad traveled to Anaheim, Calif., to participate in the Heritage Festival where they won top placement out of 17 competing schools internationally.
The students’ April 27 musical performances were judged by professional choral conductors based on a national set of performance standards and criteria, including intonation, tone, blend, balance, diction, general effect, choice of music, and interpretation. Plaques were awarded indicating each school’s rating on one of five levels: gold, silver, bronze, merit and festival.
“Being adjudicated on a national standard gives our music students incentive to strive for a higher level of performance,” noted Steven Dziekonski, music teacher at Pacific Ridge School. “Through this music festival, our students had the opportunity to hear musical groups from schools in other parts of the world, while in turn, allowing those schools to hear what we do at Pacific Ridge School. The gold award we received for our performance is the highest award level possible. Considering this is our first year participating, let alone our first year of having a vocal ensemble at our school, it was an exceptional accomplishment for our students.”
The school had 27 students participating in the Heritage Festival, an event that recognize, encourage, and celebrate musical artistry and excellence at the high school and middle school levels.
Pacific Ridge School’s musical performance included the following:
- Bonse Aba – Zambian song
- Al Shlosha D’Varim – Hebrew song
- Witness – African American Spiritual
- Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia – Argentinean song
For more information about the music and arts programs at Pacific Ridge School, visit www.pacificridge.org. For more information about Heritage Festivals, visit www.heritagefestivals.org.
