Mesa Verde Middle School's Select Ensemble Earns Top Score at Music Festival

Mesa Verde Middle School’s Select Ensemble made history at the Heritage Festivals' 2011 Festival of Gold in Chicago. The group received the highest score at the music festival, becoming the first middle school to do so in the more than 30-year history.

“Just going there was neat for us to be recognized on a national level,” Mesa Verde Principal Cliff Mitchell said. “For us to come away with the top score, and having our kids being asked back to play an encore performance, having them receive a standing ovation from everyone in the Chicago Symphony Hall, really brings it home for our kids.”

Mesa Verde was one of three middle school groups represented at the festival. The other 10 ensembles were comprised of high school students.

“It was incredible and unbelievable,” said Jay Posteraro, director of bands. “I was in a state of shock when the festival director came up to me and said, ‘How would you like to have your group perform at the encore concert?’. I had to ask him what he said again!” 

Michael Huff, the artistic director of the Festival of Gold Series, said middle school bands had only received the second highest score before. Heritage Festivals was founded in 1980, and the Festival of Gold Series is in its 18th season. 

“This was unprecedented,” Huff said. “It was really terrific to see.”

Three judges evaluated each of the ensembles. Their scores were averaged to determine the final scores.

Mesa Verde Middle School's Select Ensemble received a 94.33 score, based on a 100-point scale. Fraser High School Band from Michigan received the second highest score with 94.17.

“We were thrilled to see those young kids do so well,” Huff said.

Because Mesa Verde received the highest score, the Select Ensemble had an evening encore performance, which Huff said was “absolutely fantastic.”

Daniel Chevallier, an eighth grader who plays the euphonium in the Select Ensemble, said it was a “big experience.”

“Playing music on that stage was beyond blowing air into your instrument,” Chevallier said. “There was a much deeper feeling to play music on that stage.”

Rebecca Medina, an eighth grader who plays the clarinet in the Select Ensemble, said performing in Chicago Symphony Hall was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It’s something that I probably won’t get to do again,” she said. “I was awestruck when I walked into the room because it was so big. Getting to play and winning was just amazing. “

Rebecca’s mother Bertha Medina traveled with the Select Ensemble to Chicago to watch her daughter perform. It was her fourth trip with an ensemble from Mesa Verde. Her son, Billy Medina, who is now a 10th grader at Del Norte High School, traveled with the Jazz Ensemble and Select Ensemble when he attended Mesa Verde.

“I like to see them perform,” Bertha Medina said. “Mr. P., the director, gets such a high level of play from them. He gets them so excited that it’s a pleasure, as a parent, to see that in a child.”

After the students finished their third piece, Bertha Medina said she saw Posteraro hold his hands up for a moment and say, “Yes!”

“I knew, at that point, that he was very pleased with how they performed,” she said. “Whether it was a top-rated performance or not, he was pleased. That just made me feel good as a parent.”

Posteraro said he is proud of his students.

“The kids worked extremely hard to earn all of their accolades at the festival,” he said. “It proves hard work and dedication can take you a long way.”

Mesa Verde Middle School, as well as the other ensembles that performed at the festival, received a trophy, which will be displayed in the school’s trophy case.

“The festival is designed to recognize the very finest music programs in the country,” Huff said. “I think it’s notable that Mesa Verde Middle School has now taken its place as being on the top of that heap.”

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