2017-18 was a banner year for Goshen Middle School music ensembles, featuring many wonderful performances and opportunities for performances to be recognized at the local, state, and great lakes regional levels.

In February, hundreds of middle school students performed as soloists and in ensembles at Elkhart Central.  A few students playing at the highest difficulty of music were eligible to perform at the state event later that month.

A few weeks later the middle school jazz strings and jazz band performed at the district jazz festival.  Jazz ensembles at the middle school level are uncommon and yet both ensembles received Gold ratings.

All Goshen Middle School bands, orchestras, and choirs were adjudicated at the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) large group event with most ensembles receiving Gold ratings and the Wind Ensemble and 6^th Grade Band receiving Gold Ratings with Distinction.

In May, the orchestra and choir traveled with students to Sandusky, Ohio to perform for adjudication and in competition with other ensembles from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.  All ensembles received great ratings from the adjudicators and GMS earned the top overall orchestra award for the festival.

Finally, the well-rounded musical education enjoyed by our students earned Goshen Middle School the ISSMA All-Music Award for Band and Orchestra; one of just a handful of middle school programs in the state to do so. Nice job, directors and students!!

Goshen is a wonderful place for students to get their musical start and to make music in small and large ensembles!