The choir, orchestra and band went to various Blue Valley schools on April 12 to be critiqued at The Large Group Music Festival.

The ratings that the groups could obtain were one through five, where one is best and five is worst. Not many get fours and fives, although it is possible.

The intermediate choir “ended up at a two, which is still an excellent rating,” Elise Peterson, choir teacher, said.

The orchestra’s results and ratings were both twos for concert and chamber orchestra.

“They did really well, both orchestras. Very proud of both,” Gregory Ferguson, orchestra teacher, said.

The band’s ratings were all ones for concert, symphonic and wind ensemble. This is the best rating that any of the groups could have gotten.

To get these ratings the groups go to different schools. Either to “Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, or Olathe [school districts],” Peterson said.

South has never hosted these festivals although they may in the future.

“This is our opportunity to evaluate our students. It is much like the state assessments for the other students in the building,” Ferguson said.

Much like the assessments, the teachers will choose the music for the festivals, and some judges will choose one or two pieces or tell the performing arts instructors the number of pieces they should do.

The feedback the teachers are given over those specific pieces are used to help the groups get better.

“My best philosophy is if both judges say it, it’s something you really need to work on,” Peterson said.