The Chesterton Music Program finished the 2025-2026 school strong, while adding an exciting new distinction for its students and staff.  Duneland School Corporation was named among the 2026’s Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation!

This year NAMM has named 1008 school districts as the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, including only 18 school districts in Indiana.  This is the 2nd year in a row that the Duneland School Corporation has been included on this list.  The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment to and access to music education.

Three cheers for our CHS students! Their hard work and talent has earned them a recognition only 15 other schools in the state can claim, the ISSMA TOTAL DEPARTMENT ALL-MUSIC AWARD!

The Chesterton High School Bands, Choirs, & Orchestras each competed in multiple events (marching, solos, jazz, large ensembles) to showcase a well-rounded music education. This also means  at EVERY ISSMA competition the students participated in, they excelled! Congratulations!

On Monday, May 4 the CHS Music Department honored its dedicated and hard working students. The department recognized students who competed at ISSMA State, Tri-M Honor Society members, and all who participated in groups like the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony and All-State Honors Groups. Letters, Double, Triple, and Quadruple Letters were awarded, and Seniors were recognized for their years of service.

The CHS Camerata Choir earned a Gold with Distinction Rating, and were only 2.5 points away from a completely perfect score! Juniors Emme Curran, Hannah Loving, and Sam Smith, as well as Senior Mia Larimer earned Outstanding Soloists Awards.

The combined Treble Voiced Ensemble, consisting of Bel Canto & Drifters, earned a Gold with Distinction rating and a Gold in sight-reading (the top award able to be earned). To earn the With Distinction Award, groups have to get golds from all four judges, and those gold ratings also have to be high. Additionally, the group competed in the most difficult level, Group 1 and had the BEST scores in the STATE that weekend for a Univoiced Choir.

The combined Mixed Voiced Ensemble, consisting of Camerata & Sandpipers, earned a Gold with Distinction rating and a Gold in sight-reading. The group was within two points of a perfect score. The ensemble competed in the most difficult level, Group 1, as well as earned the TOP scores in the STATE that weekend for a Mixed Choir.