The E. Russell Hicks Middle School Eighth Grade Band, under the direction of Michele Hull and assisted by Betty Sue Kitchen, participated in the Washington County Large Ensemble festival on April 23 at North High.
The band was the only eighth-grade band in the county that received a superior rating and played the required level of music to qualify the band to advance to the state festival at Clarksburg High School in Montgomery County on May 7.
At the state festival, the eighth-grade band received a superior rating, the highest rating.
It was one of 30 middle school bands from across Maryland to participate in the festival.
21 students at festival earn superior ratings
In addition to the Eighth Grade Band attending the State Large Ensemble Festival, 21 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students attended the County Solo and Ensemble Festival on Feb. 23 and received a "superior" rating, qualifying them to attend the State Solo and Ensemble Festival.
