by Sequim Gazette Staff

Home-school students from Sequim and Port Angeles competing in the Washington, D.C. Heritage Music Festival March 24-April 3 brought home silver and gold.

Ratings, that is.

The Northwinds Home School Band, comprised of 44 students, traveled to the East Coast with parents and director Dan Tutton to compete against nine other instrumental groups.

The band’s intermediate and advanced concert bands and the intermediate and advanced jazz bands competed, with all but one of the ensembles receiving a gold rating, said band parent Becky O’Connor. The intermediate jazz group took silver.

O’Connor said the advanced jazz ensemble was recognized as the top band at the festival with the Outstanding Band award as well as a Sweepstakes award. Each of the concert bands ranked first in its division and trombonist Jeremy Fodge received the prestigious Maestro award, she said.

Tutton said this is the first year the band has participated in the event and he hopes to take them again in the future.

The band performs three public concerts a year and has been around for 12 years.

The trip was paid for by four years of fundraising through community members purchasing hanging flower baskets, attending or sponsoring theater productions, and otherwise supporting the students’ efforts, O’Connor said.

For more information on the Northwinds Home School Band, call Dan Tutton at 452-0969.