On Friday, March 1, the G. Ray Bodley High School Jazz Ensemble went to New Hartford to participate in a competition against many schools from the area.

The Ensemble played three different tunes that were judged. Those songs consisted of Caravan, My Romance, and Moanin’.

The group played very well earning the highest award one could get at this competition: gold. The Ensemble also had six people who received an “All-Star Award.” Those individuals were seniors Nick Brown, Justin Hatch, and Ryan Barry, junior Alex Blaine, and sophomores Olivia Hawthorne and Anthony Lucas.

Brown said, “It makes me feel more prideful in my playing.” He just started playing the baritone saxophone at the beginning of this year.

Hatch stated, “It is a huge honor to be selected for an award. It also makes me even more motivated to continue to better my playing.”

Blaine stated, “Our band played very well and deserved to get a gold award at this competition. It shows how much work our band puts in everyday.”