The Peninsula High School Concert Band were celebrating last week after receiving a “superior” rating at the Commencement Bay Music Educators Association Regional Concert Band Festival on Tuesday, March 14, the highest ranking a band can receive. 

The festival included bands from the Commencement Bay region including Gig Harbor High School, Stadium High School, and more. Each school band prepares a 20 minute concert set and are judged by a local prominent music educator, such as band directors from nearby universities. 

School bands are given a rating of superior, excellent, good, fair, or poor based on the band’s performance. Judges consider tone, intonation, musicality, rhythm, technique, and dynamics.

“It essentially serves as our yearly assessment for the band,” Peninsula High School Director of Bands, Megan Hilborn, said. 

Earlier this year, the PHS Jazz Band also received a “Superior” rating at the COMBMEA (Commencement Bay Music Education Association) Jazz Festival. 

“The Peninsula High School Band Program has not had both groups receive an overall ‘superior’ rating for Concert Band and Jazz Band in over 10 years, which speaks to the amazing work these students have put in this year. It is especially noteworthy to have such strong performances when all students involved were heavily impacted by COVID-19 in terms of their band experience,” Hilsong said.

The PHS  and GHHS wind symphonies traveled to Vancouver, Washington for the Music for All Regional Concert Band Festival on Saturday, March 18. The PHS Jazz Band traveled to the Pacific Lutheran University Jazz Festival on Tuesday, March 21, to be judged and work with renowned jazz vocalist and trombone player Aubrey Logan. Logan has shared the stage with Alabama Shakes, Meghan Trainor, Pharrell Williams, Josh Groban, Dave Koz, The Commodores, and Boston Pops.

Congratulations to the Peninsula High School band program for this awesome achievement!