Port Chester Middle Schoolers Garner Regional Music Awards

Musicians from Port Chester Middle School earned seven awards at a competition held on Friday May 30th, in Kutztown and Fleetwood PA. Competing among groups from eight schools representing New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Port Chester students excelled in all three of their performance areas.

The PCMS Show Choir, under the direction of Mark Zizolfo, received a “Superior” rating, earning a First Place trophy, with scores of 90 and 91. In a special individual honor, sixth-grade pianist Lindsey Co was named “Outstanding Student Accompanist” of the Festival. The Show Choir is an extra-curricular group that rehearses after school.  It consists of twenty-one students from grades seven and eight, who audition for placement.  The Show Choir performance features group and solo singing with an original choreographed stage routine.

The PCMS Select Band, directed by Ken Kraut, received a “Superior” rating, scoring 92 and 93, to earn a Second Place trophy among the concert bands in its class. The Select Band is an extra-curricular group made up of one hundred students, chosen by audition, from grades six through eight, which rehearses before school once weekly.

A “Superior” rating, with scores of 92 and 92, was earned by the PCMS Jazz Band, also directed by Ken Kraut.  Their score also earned them the prestigious honor of “Best Overall Jazz Band”, recognizing the highest score of the Festival. Seventh-grade alto saxophonist Eli Taylor-Lemire was awarded “Outstanding Jazz Soloist” of the Festival. The PCMS Jazz Band is an extra-curricular group that rehearses once weekly before school, consisting of twenty-nine students from grades six through eight.

One final award, earned among all the schools, was the coveted “Esprit de Corps” award for outstanding student citizenship and best overall group effort.