VHS Band at Aurora Music Festival, Photo by Joe Prax
Courtesy of VHS Music Staff- Thanks to a very supportive community, Valdez High School hosted the Aurora Music Festival 2025 this past weekend. The halls were filled with humming, jazz, opera, and bluegrass! All three schools housed 450 students from the twelve visiting schools from as far away as Unalaska.
Over the course of the weekend, our students participated in the Opening Concert performing Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin and joined all the other schools in showcasing a performance. The concert can be viewed at: Opening Concert VHS Band can be viewed specifically at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO7VfjMt7Us.
Ann Norris appreciating the music at Aurora Music Festival. Norris is the music director at Valdez High School and did much of the work behind the scenes to bring the festival to Valdez, Photo by Joe Prax
On Friday, there was a showcase of solos and ensembles who were the top rated performers in their adjudications, the Command Performance Concert.
Our own Barbershop Quartet performed in that concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1bJAYdaSu8&t=1494s
The entire concert can be viewed here: Solo and Ensemble Command Performance Concert
Erik Vincent, Kassidy Ferguson
Photos by Joe Prax
On Saturday morning, every student performed in the Finale Concert, including some of our middle school band and choir students. Festival Finale Concert The final concert was a stunning representation of the work of the Mass Band, Mass Choir, Honor Choir, Honor Band, and Orchestra who rehearsed throughout the weekend at the school, Teen Center, and Bayside Community Church, under the direction of our guest conductors.
VHS Band Member, Ezekiel James
Photos by Joe Prax
The following Valdez students received superior ratings on their solos or ensembles during the bustling Thursday and Friday competition and have the opportunity to represent VHS at the State Solo and Ensemble competition at UAA, May 9th and 10th.
