Van Nuys Middle School Band Places First at Music Festival

The Van Nuys Middle School Jazz Band took top honors at the Music in the Parks Festival held last Saturday in Santa Clarita.

The band also won awards for Best Soloist, Best Manners and their Senior Band came in fourth place in the Concert Band category. They performed a mixture of jazz and traditional music as part of their repertoire.

These wins are especially meaningful for the students as the former band teacher died earlier this year and they had a series of interim instructors, some of whom were not band teachers. Their new permanent band instructor, Valerie Ravitch, comes from Van Nuys High School and is especially impressed at the students’ commitment. “I’ve never worked with a group of students who wanted to be really good so badly,” she said. Most of the students didn't play an instrument until they started in the band program.

Ensembles from all over the United States and Canada participate in the Music In The Parks program, where independent experts evaluate and critique each band and offer feedback on performances. Students usually fund raise all year to afford the trip, although this year private donations made their participation possible.

The public will have the opportunity to see the band perform at their spring concert which will be held Wednesday, May 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the Van Nuys Middle School Auditorium. Admission is $5.