Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie CSD Social Media

It’s officially a decade of top results for the Mid-Prairie High School Jazz Band. The band achieved a Division 1 rating, the top rating a band can receive, at the State Jazz Band Festival in Williamsburg on Saturday.

Amongst the 12 bands performing at Williamsburg, the Golden Hawks were one of four to receive the rating. Additionally, Mid-Prairie was one of only two bands, alongside Williamsburg, to receive a Division 1 rating from all three judges. 

A jazz band is judged on 10 categories, with each category given one to five points, five being the best. For the ensemble, the group is judged on overall tone quality, intonation, blend and balance, rhythmic feel, interpretation, authority and precision, and musicianship. The rhythm section of the band is judged on time, fills and back-up. Soloists are also judged on creativity and musicianship. After each performance, the numbers are added up, with groups scoring between 45 and 50 receiving the coveted 1 rating.

The jazz band is under the instruction of David Kunz, the Instrumental Music Teacher at Mid-Prairie.