Six of Stoughton High School's bands and choruses returned from the Heritage Festival of Montreal Sunday evening sweeping nearly every award available at this international competition.

There were 4 first place awards and 2 second place finishes PLUS much more! Over 700 music students from many areas of Canada as well as U.S. groups from as far south as Virginia were present at this competition.

The chorus and jazz choir won first place honors in their respective divisions. The C Hour concert band won first place in Division 2 bands while the F hour concert band placed second in Division 3 competition. The two Stoughton jazz bands placed first AND second in the jazz band division ahead of all other jazz groups there!

In addition, due to the averaged point totals received by our vocal groups, Stoughton received the festival's Choral Sweepstakes Award for the most outstanding choral groups of the festivals. Stoughton was also awarded the Instrumental Sweepstakes Award for the highest combined scores in the band area.

The Tuesday Jazz Band received the highest score of the festival, 96 out of a possible 100 points, and received the Instrumental Grand Champions Award and well as the Judges' Award for received an averaged score greater than 95.

While the groups compete for rankings, one other aspect of this competition measures the quality of performances based upon a national grading rubric. For earning scores that placed them in the GOLD STANDARD CATEGORY, the F Hour Concert Band and Tuesday Jazz Band each received an invitation to compete in the HERITAGE FESTIVALS OF GOLD next spring in Symphony hall in Boston. Only one other group at the festival, from McLean, Virginia, received this "by invitation only" honor!

The honors did not stop there! Stoughton was then awarded the festivals GRAND CHAMPION SWEEPSTAKES AWARD for overall excellence in bands and choruses. This award is based upon the combined point averages of all participating schools and the music quality of Stoughton's music department outshone all other schools competing in the festival!

Finally, the adjudicators also have the discretion to issue "Maestro" awards for unusually outstanding individuals' performances. Sometimes, none are given. However, at this festival, 4 students from the over 700 present were singled out for these special soloist awards, and remarkably, THREE OF THE FOUR AWARDS went to Stoughton students. Congratulations to soloists Nick Silveira, David Morris, and Jeff Numero for outstanding solo performances!

Congratulations to all the student who traveled to Montreal and represented Stoughton with class and excellence!