When competing and performing in Fantastic Festival, the choir and band classes are adjudicated based on a total of five main qualities, including: tone quality, intonation, diction & pronunciation, pitches & rhythms, technique, and phrasing & musicality, demonstrated during each performance. Leading up to the main performance, it is required of music department directors and teachers Sarah Iadarola and Susan Oakley to carefully and thoughtfully select music for each of their choirs and bands. After doing so, they are required to work with each class of students to teach and perfect the selected set of music by the date of the Fantastic Festival adjudication. This process takes months of meticulous rehearsal and preparation to ensure that the music performance is performed to the standards expected by the piece and to the classes best ability. Most importantly, without the dedication of the students, and especially directors/teachers Sarah Iadarola and Susan Oakley, performing in the Fantastic Festival could not be possible. 

This year, on the morning April 26th, the choir and band classes performed for and were adjudicated by Dr. Gabriel Lovefall and Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey A. Spenner. After the live performance and adjudication, the choir and band walked away with an impressive collection of winnings; Treble Choir, One Voice, and Concert Choir receiving Platinum Plaques, and Baritone Choir, Jazz 1, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Band receiving Gold Plaques. With yet another impressive year of accomplishments by the choir and band, the students and directors Iadarola, and Oakley thank Dr. Gabriel Lovefall and Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey A. Spenner for traveling to the North Haven High School to adjudicate their performances, and look forward to continuing their involvement with Fantastic Festival, striving to compete and travel themselves in the years to come. 

To celebrate the completion of their performances, the NHHS Choir and Band traveled Wallingford, CT to enjoy a fun afternoon bowling and playing arcade games at Bowlero.

Admin, 2. “New Choral Union Director Plans Multigenerational Rebuild : Norfolk Now.” Norfolk Now, 7 Apr. 2024, nornow.org/2024/04/07/new-choral-union-director-plans-multigenerational-rebuild/. Accessed 2024.

United States, Coast Guard. “United States Coast Guard > Community > Coast Guard Band > Personnel > Directors.” Www.uscg.mil, 2024, www.uscg.mil/Community/Coast-Guard-Band/personnel/directors/. Accessed 2024.