Ellsworth, Houlton schools win big at state vocal jazz festival

ELLSWORTH – The joint was really jumping at Ellsworth High School during the weekend as more than 600 young musicians from around the state performed at the annual Maine State Vocal Jazz Festival.

Schools in Ellsworth and Houlton were the big winners.

Thirty groups from 24 schools competed in the two-day festival on Friday and Saturday. The Maine Music Educators Association sponsors the event.

The Ellsworth High School Show Choir won the Division I high school competition performing “Les Miserables.” Nokomis Regional High School finished second, and Mount Desert Island Regional High School finished third.

Houlton High School performed “The Music Man,” to take home the state title in the Division II show choir competition. Fort Fairfield High School was second, and Stearns High School was third.

In the middle school show choir competition, Ellsworth Middle School performed selections from “The Lion King” to win the Division I state title. Warsaw Middle School from Pittsfield was second, and Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden tied with Caribou Middle School for third place.

In Division II, Houlton Middle School show choir won first place for its performance of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.” Fort Fairfield finished second.

In the jazz choir portion of the festival, Bonny Eagle High School finished first in Division I. Presque Isle was second and Nokomis Regional High School, third. In Division II, Fryeburg Academy placed first; Maine Central Institute, second; and Caribou High School, third.