Prince William County Public Schools

Nine PWCS schools receive the Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in music

2022-23 School Year Learning And Achievement For All
  • May 3, 2023

VMEA - Virginia Music Educators Association. Learning and Achievement for All. Futuros Prosperos. Thriving Futures.

Congratulations to the nine schools from Prince William County Public Schools that received the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Blue Ribbon Award. This award is the highest award given to schools’ music programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognizes achieved excellence in band, orchestra, and choral performance.

Each year, secondary band, choir, and orchestra ensembles perform at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) District Concert Assessment, and Virginia Choral Directors Association (VCDA) Stage Assessment. During these assessments, student ensembles perform for a panel of adjudicators who assess students on their performance, and provide feedback based on specific categories such as tone, intonation, rhythm, technique/diction, balance/blend, and artistry/musicianship. To qualify for this award, all disciplines in a school must receive a rating of "Superior" at the state music concert assessments.

Dr. Ed Stephenson, supervisor of fine and performing arts, commends these musicians, "PWCS would like to congratulate all students and teachers who participated in the VMEA state music assessments. These are excellent opportunities to fulfill the strategic plan goal to increase student access to performance and production in the fine and performing arts. We would like to extend a special congratulations to our schools who received the VMEA Blue Ribbon Award and have demonstrated excellence in music."

Congratulations to the following schools and teachers on their achievement in 2023.

Battlefield High School

  • Michael Britcher, Band
  • Douglas Burney, Choir
  • Edward Scully, Orchestra

Bull Run Middle School

  • Alicia Brodt, Choir
  • Elisabeth Deavers, Orchestra
  • Connor Haupt, Band
  • Danielle Spriggs, Choir

C.D. Hylton High School

  • Michael Basham, Band
  • Dennis Brown, Orchestra
  • Thomas Tutwiler, Choir

Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School

  • Ben Bernstein, Orchestra
  • Donald Magee, Band
  • Keri Staley, Choir

Gainesville High School

  • Vincent Bryk, Band
  • Jennifer Malechek, Orchestra
  • Kristina Sheppard, Choir

Osbourn Park High School

  • Steven Dailey, Band
  • Dominick Izzo, Choir
  • Stephen Kelsey, Orchestra

Patriot High School

  • Elizabeth Selby, Choir
  • Katie VanDenBerghe, Orchestra
  • Katherine Williams, Band

Potomac Shores Middle School

  • Ryan Burr, Band
  • Andrew Kerper, Choir
  • Lisa Flowers, Choir
  • Myles Matalavage, Band
  • Amy Ruhlman, Orchestra

Woodbridge High School

  • Emily Matalavage, Band
  • Joel Shapiro, Choir
  • Taryn Wood, Orchestra