Rondout Valley Middle School students took home high honors last week at the Music in the Parks Festival, with the 5th and 6th grade Concert Band taking first place in the Elementary School Division, and the Junior High School Jazz Band taking top honors in their Division.

Additionally, the Rondout Valley 7th and 8th grade Concert Band won first place in the Junior High School Division, and the Rondout Valley 7th and 8th Jazz Band was awarded the prestigious "Best Overall Jazz Band". The Rondout Valley 7th and 8th grade Concert Band won "Best Overall Concert Band" and all the Rondout Valley bands were honored with the Esprit de Corps Award.

Adjudicator Steven Katzenmoyer praised the 7th & 8th grade band students saying, “Your students are so incredibly well behaved, polite, mature. They represent Rondout Valley so very well, like young professionals, not junior high students.”

About the 5th & 6th grade band, adjudicator Ronald Demkee said, "It's truly wonderful to see and hear these kids doing creative music! Just so many wonderful things going on at your school! Thank you for working so, so hard to make music possible for so, so many kids!"

The festival was held May 17 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.