A group of 88 local high school musicians recently put Yorkton on the map south of the border with both their talent and their behaviour.
Yorkton Regional High School bands brought home five awards from the May 17 Music in the Parks competition in Chicago, Illinois.
"The most important award to the YRHS group was the Esprits de Corps award," said band teacher Mark Zawerucha.
According to the competition organizers the Esprits de Corps award is "presented to students who demonstrated proper social behavior [sic] as well as musical behavior/encouragement. They possess the qualities of highly successful people who are sensitive to the feelings of others and applaud accomplishments no matter if by one's own school or another school."
Event organizers evaluate deportment of all the groups and students throughout the entire time onsite to determine who receives the honour.
The format of the event is the bands perform to receive a rating of superior, excellent, good, fair or poor. The bands in each of these rating categories are then ranked. There is also an overall trophies for Best Concert Band, Best Jazz Ensemble, Best Orchestra, Best Choir and Best Parade (Marching) Band.
The Regional took the overall trophy for concert band. The Marching Band received the highest ranking of Superior and won first place in that category. The Senior and Junior Concert Bands were ranked Excellent and first in those categories.
A total of 75 groups participated in the competition.
In addition to performing the Yorkton kids got to have some more fun including taking in a performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, visits to the Chicago Field Museum and Chicago Science and Industry Museum, a trip to the Alder Planetarium, performances of Blue Man Group and Mamma Mia and a Cubs game.
