A clean sweep for Decorah High School music ensembles

For the first time ever, all six of the Decorah High School music ensembles received a Division I rating at the annual Iowa High School Music Association State Large Group Music Festival.

DHS Band Director Jim Fritz said, "We've consistently received Division I ratings throughout the years with our older ensembles but this is the first time ever that our younger ensembles all received Division I ratings as well.  They're judged on the same criteria as the older ensembles."

This festival is an adjudicated event involving 3 judges per ensemble.  Ensembles are rated on a 5 point scale Division I - Superior, Division II - Excellent, Division III - Good, Division IV - Fair, and Division V - poor.

The Symphonic Band, conducted by Matt Cody; the Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jim Fritz; and the 9th Grade Choir, Viking Chorus and Concert Choir, all conducted by Jason Rausch, all competed Friday night.  On Saturday the String Orchestra, conducted by Nicole James, traveled to Cedar Falls where they competed at NU High School.  Over 250 DHS students are involved in these six ensembles.