Nordhoff musicians strike gold
by Randy Harward, contributor

The Nordhoff High School Music Department just returned from its annual Spring Tour - this year to the lovely "City by the Bay," San Francisco.
The group of almost 100 students had a very full agenda, competing in five separate band and choral competitions at the Heritage Music Festival in Palo Alto, performing at Golden Gate Park and St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, and attending clinics specifically for Nordhoff at both Stanford University and San Jose State University. While on tour the group also visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Science Exploratorium, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Great America, and saw the hit musical, "Stomp."
The 30-plus schools competing at the Heritage Festival came from all over California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, and Nordhoff is proud to announce that the Nordhoff Music Department took first place in all competitions, specifically:
· The Gold 'n Blue Chorale won First Place and a Mixed Choir Silver Award.
· The A Cappella Singers won First Place and a Chamber Choir Silver Award.
· The Ranger Marching Band and Color Guard won First Place and a Parade Review Silver Award.
· The Jazz Band won First Place and a Jazz Band Gold Award.
· And the Symphonic Band won First Place and a Concert Band Gold Award.
Additionally, Nordhoff was awarded the Instrumental Sweepstakes Award for the highest average score of a school with three instrumental ensembles. And they also were awarded the Overall Festival Sweepstakes Award, the final and top award of the competition, for the highest average score for the schools with combined instrumental and choral ensembles. It was quite an honor to win these awards, especially with their friends from Ventura High cheering them on.
The Nordhoff Music Department thanks everyone in the community for their support of music and the arts at Nordhoff, and for the generous support for the many fund-raising events needed to bring these annual tours together.
The Spring Tour tradition will continue and the group is particularly excited about next year as they have received a special invitation to perform an entire program at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The entire Ojai community, and Nordhoff Music Director Bill Wagner, have reason to be proud as this honor is only extended by special invitation based on the reputation of the quality of a schools music program.
Congratulations to all the students, faculty and parents involved!
Randy Harward is the president of Maestro.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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