Once again the “A” Band students of Valparaiso High School were one of only 16 bands in the state to advance to the ISSMA Concert Band finals in Indianapolis this past weekend. The event, hosted by Butler University, featured the top music programs statewide. These bands, from every corner of Indiana, qualified for the finals the previous weekend by playing at one of the district level competitions.
This year was the last State Final for the VHS Band Director Daniel R. Pritchett, who will be retiring after 38 years at VHS. It was once again a successful trip, another of the many VHS bands have taken under his direction. VHS bands have remarkably made the State finals 18 of the last 20 years. VHS is one of only three schools in the state to ever field more than one band in the finals in a given year and have won more State Championships than any other program in the state. This is an amazing record, especially when one considers that it competes against all schools in the state, regardless of size or budget.
This year the VHS students again did themselves, their school and our community proud. Our musicians competed head to head against schools throughout the state and walked away with an outstanding seventh Place! Congratulations to our student musicians, and to their director, Daniel R. Pritchett!