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The National Association of Music Merchants has awarded BHS with a Support Music Merit Award!

A total of ninety-eight schools were chosen nationwide. Ballard High School is the only school in Washington state to receive this award.

A SMMA Award recognizes an individual school for their commitment to and support of music education. The award recognizes and celebrates the commitment of school administrators, community leaders, teachers and parents who believe in music education and are working to ensure that it is part of a well-rounded education for all children. Over the 20 years of the survey, this designation has helped school music programs maintain and, in many cases, increase funding for music education programs. The award highlights music as a national education issue and shows what your school or community is doing to provide opportunities for music learning. The award also enables educators to draw attention to music programs that are sometimes overlooked or not fully understood by members of the public beyond the school community.

Program Awards

2022

• Chamber Choir, Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Quartet, Brass Quartet, and Sax Quartet – 1st Place Winners at Regional Solo and Ensemble

• Orchestras featured performers at Wintergrass Music Festival

• Marching Band wins Best Musical Entry and Mayor’s Award at Auburn Veteran’s Day Parade

• Jazz Combo wins 2nd Place at Puget Sounds Combo Festival

• Wind Ensemble Collaboration with US Navy Band Northwest

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2021

• Winner of Support Music Merit Award
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2020
• Winner of Support Music Merit Award 
• Percussion Ensemble, String Quintet, Chamber Choir, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Vocal Jazz -1st Place Winners at Regional Solo and Ensemble
• Jazz Band selected for Monterey Jazz Festival
• Jazz Band selected for Hot Java, Cool Jazz at the Paramount

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Read some GOOD NEWS about our Program from NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)

Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival

With 75 entires, Ballard had the highest participation of any school in the region. We are proud of the hard work and artistry that went into all of these performances. In addition, 9 soloists and 6 ensembles won their categories and will advance to the State Competition this April.

 

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2019

Band

  • Outstanding Trumpet Section at the UW Jazz Festival 

  • Viking Jazz Festival - 1st Place Band, Outstanding Rhythm Section, Outstanding Trombone section

  • 1st Place at the Bellevue High Jazz Festival

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Choir

Vancouver Heritage Festival

  • Concert Choir: Gold Award - 1st place

  • Advanced Chorale: Gold Award- 3rd place

  • Concert Choir: Adjudicator Awards (scored above 95 with all judges)

​CWU Fall Choral Invitational

  • Concert Choir wins Linda Marra Award for Outstanding Connection to Music

​State Ensemble

  • Men’s Ensemble wins 2nd in State

 

Orchestra 

Vancouver Heritage Festival​

  • Chamber Orchestra: Gold Award

  • Symphonic Orchestra: Gold Award

  • Chamber Orchestra -- Instrumental Sweepstakes Award

  • Chamber Orchestra: Adjudicator Awards (scored above 95 with all judges)

  • 8 Instrumental Maestro Awards (individual students)

  • Overall Festival Sweepstakes Award

WWU State Orchestra Festival

  • Chamber and Symphonic Gold Ratings

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2018

  • Wind Ensemble feature performance at WMEA Conference

  • Jazz Band wins Outstanding Big Band Award at UW Jazz Festival

  • Orchestra wins 1st runner-up at National Orchestra Cup at Lincoln Center

  • Fiddle Ensemble wins 1st place at WWU Orchestra Festival

  • Concert Choir and Advanced Chorale perform by invitation at L.A. Festival for Top Choirs

  • Jazz Band finalist for Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival and Essentially Ellington

  • Jazz Band selected for Hot Java, Cool Jazz at the Paramount

  • Ballard Chamber Orchestra First Runner-Up in 2018 Prestigious Lincoln Center Orchestra Cup 

 

2017

  • Wind Ensemble wins Gold Award at Carnegie Hall’s New York International Music Festival

  • Marching Band wins 1st place at Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival Parade

  • Symphonic Orchestra wins 2nd place at Northwest Orchestra Festival

  • Jazz Band wins Outstanding Big Band Award at UW Jazz Festival

 

2016

  • Concert Choir and Advanced Chorale perform at Carnegie Hall for Choir Nationals

  • Chamber Orchestra selected for feature performance at National ASTA Conference

  • Jazz Band wins Outstanding Big Band Award at UW Jazz Festival

  • Concert Choir invited to perform the National Anthem for State of the State address

  • Jazz Band places 4th at Reno Jazz Festival

  • Children of Eden earns multiple award nominations including Best Musical in Washington State from the 5th Avenue Theatre 

  • BPA has a fantastic showing at last weekend's regional Solo and Ensemble festival at Seattle Pacific University. Ballard had 21 soloists and 10 ensembles participate, who all earned a score of either I-Superior or II-Excellent. Special recognition goes to the 3 ensembles and 6 soloists who won their categories and will advance to the state competition in April! They include Vocal Jazz, Percussion Ensemble, Mixed Vocal Duet, Aidan Ward-Richter - Snare Drum, Meg Shepherd - Soprano, Ezra Finch - Soprano, Aisha Carpenter - Alto, Satchel Dunnell - Tenor, and Diego Roberts Buceta - Baritone. In addition, Chamber Orchestra, Women's Chamber Choir, and numerous soloists were selected as alternates in their categories.

 

2015

  • Solo/Ensemble State Winners: Percussion Ensemble - 3rd place, Baritone Voice - 3rd place, Women's Vocal Duet - 3rd place

  • Solo/Ensemble Regional Winners: Percussion Large Ensemble, Men's Quartet, Vocal Jazz, Women's Duet, Mixed Duet, and 6 soloists

  • Jazz Band – invitation to Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA and awarded Outstanding Soloist (vocals)

  • Chamber Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

  • Symphonic Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

  • Fiddle Ensemble - WWU Orchestra Festival, 1st place in Eclectic Strings Division

  • Best Supporting Actress - 5th Avenue Awards

  • Student Achievement Award - 5th Avenue Awards

  • Concert Choir and Advanced Women’s Chorale invited to perform at Carnegie Hall for 2016 COA Nationals for Top Choirs
     

2014

 

  • Concert Choir feature performance at NW American Choral Directors Association Conference

  • Jazz Band selected for Swing Central Jazz! at the Savannah Music Festival

  • Solo/Ensemble Regional Winners: Women’s Chamber Choir, Men’s Quartet, Brass Quintet, Percussion Ensemble

  • Jazz Band – Hot Java Cool Jazz invitation for 3rd consecutive year

  • Chamber Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

  • Symphonic Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

  • CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAST AND CREW OF "THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE" BHS Drama received 5 nominations and 2 honorable mentions for the 5th Ave Awards. 

  • CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. AISHA CARPENTER! Aisha Carpenter won best soloist award for vocals at the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA, May 2015.  

  • Ballard Jazz I was one of only 12 high school big bands were selected to this festival. 

 

2013

  • Jazz Band –1st place win at Mt. Hood Jazz Festival

  • Men’s Quartet – 1st place win at State Solo/Ensemble Competition

  • Solo/Ensemble Regional Winners: Men's Quartet and Percussion Duo

  • Chamber Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

  • Symphonic Orchestra - WWU Orchestra Festival, Gold Award

 

2012 

  • Regional Solo/Ensemble Winners: Women’s Chamber Choir,Women’s Trio,Men’s Quartet,Percussion Trio 

  • Jazz Band Invited to Perform on Starbucks’“Hot Java/ Cool Jazz Concert” at the Paramount Theater” 

 

2011 

  • Western Washington University Orchestra Festival – Gold Award 

  • Festival Sweepstakes Award at Vancouver “Heritage Festival”, Concert Choir – Gold Rating and 2nd Place in 3A division,Treble Choir – Gold Rating and 2nd Place in 3A division; Orchestra – 1st Place in 3A division, Adjudicators Award, Best Overall Orchestra 

  • Recognized as one of the top 20 Jazz Bands in the nation through the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival 

  • 5th Avenue Theater’s High School Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Orchestra 

 

2010

  • Concert Choir Invited to perform at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of the Distinguished Concerts International Series 

  • 1st Place AA Women’s Choir, Overall High School Choir Award at Wild Waves “Music in the Parks” Festival 

  • 2nd Place Orchestra, Gold Rating, Adjudicators Award, Spirit of New York City Award at New York “Heritage Festival”

 

2009

  • 2nd Place AAAA Band at the Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival 

  • 1st Place AA Orchestra, Best Overall Orchestra, Esprit de Corps Award at Silverwood at “Music in the Parks” Festival 

  • 1st Place AA Women’s Choir at Wild Waves “Music in the Parks” Festival 

  • Concert Choir Gold Rating at Anaheim Heritage Festival 

 

2008 

  • 1st Place Orchestra at San Francisco Heritage Music Festival 

  • Best Overall Band at the Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival

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