Sanford Middle School's 8th grade Band has achieved the highest honor possible at the Maine Band Director's Association Concert Festival in South Portland, earning a Superior rating for their outstanding performance.
The talented ensemble, which included some exceptional 7th graders, traveled to South Portland High School on Wednesday, March 26th to showcase their musical abilities before a panel of three judges. Their performance featured three meticulously prepared pieces, including two selections previously performed at Band Fest.
Following their main performance, the young musicians demonstrated their musical adaptability through a challenging sight-reading exercise. This unique component required the band to learn and perform a completely new piece of music after just 3-4 minutes of preparation time. After their sight-reading performance, students benefited from a valuable clinic session with one of the judges.
"I could not be more proud of their hard work in preparation, their focus during the performance, and the way they represented Sanford at the festival," 7th and 8th Grade Band Teacher Erica Scarano said. "This is the only festival of its kind in Maine, providing an excellent opportunity for students to perfect their musical pieces and perform under pressure."