Boardman High orchestras win honors at competition

BOARDMAN -- The Boardman High School symphony, chamber and classical orchestras have won top honors at the Heritage Festival National Competition in Chicago.
The orchestras won two gold awards, a silver award and trophies for the highest combined scores of any instrumental ensemble and for overall outstanding music program.
The 153-member symphony orchestra, the largest group participating, received a gold award and a trophy for having one of the two highest overall scores.
The 41-member chamber orchestra, which features the top string players in the BHS orchestra, also received a gold award and a trophy for one of the top two scores.
In addition, the chamber orchestra received the Outstanding Instrumental Group trophy for the highest overall score of any group at the competition.
The 77-member classical orchestra received a silver award and helped the school win the Instrumental Sweepstakes Trophy. Only schools with three ensembles participating are eligible for the Sweepstakes trophy.
High school musical groups from 10 states competed.
The BHS orchestras will perform a community concert featuring senior soloists Andy Lynn, Elizabeth Fitori and Becky Davidson at 7:30 p.m. May 23 in the performing arts center at the high school.