PITTSFIELD – Put a group of high school musicians in a room – without their instruments – and they often find it hard, at first, to express how they feel about music education.

After several moments of quiet thought, ideas begin to flow.

“It has taught me expression,” said Tyler Richardson, a trombone player and vocalist at Maine Central Institute. “It is a way of expressing yourself that words and actions can’t capture.”

MCI students expressed themselves in an exceptional manner this past weekend when they brought home four first place group awards and three individual awards at “Music in the Parks,” a national competition held in Williamsburg, Va.

Competing against 21 other schools from 10 states as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida, 88 MCI musicians outdid themselves, winning first in their class in vocal jazz combo, instrumental jazz combo, concert band and concert choir – every category they entered.

They also brought home the overall award for vocal jazz ensemble.

Instructor Dean Neal said that the judges also awarded four individual merit awards, something they are not required to do but offer when they observe exceptional performances.

Of the four merit awards presented, MCI received three: David Chale, drums; Dustin Sposato, piano accompaniment; and Spencer Fitts, saxophone.

On Monday Neal said he was incredibly proud of his students. “They felt that all of their performances went well,” he said “but not perfect. That shows they have a good perspective of themselves.”

The trip, paid for by the students through fund-raisers, was a whirlwind – they left Thursday and returned Sunday, taking some time to see the sights in Washington, D.C.

Friday morning, as the musicians and vocalists were touring the Ronald Reagan Building at the National Trade Center, Neal told them to line up.

“He gave us the pitch and we began singing ‘Silence of Time.’ Somehow we all knew which song,” said David Chale, a senior at MCI. “We’re that tight.”

People came out of their offices; security guards abandoned their posts. “It was awesome,” said Richardson.

“That’s what music has taught me,” said senior Emmy Wagner, who will attend Colby College this fall. “It taught me confidence, having to perform in front of a roomful or hall full of people.”

“It has taught me patience,” said Marc Turner. “We had to work hard to get where we are now.”

“For the three weeks before the trip, we busted hard,” said Jake LaSalle. But music class is fun compared to their “regular” classes, the students said.

“Music is where I fit in,” said Chale. “If I could picture myself anywhere, any time, in the future, it would be behind a drum set.” Chale will study audio engineering in college.

In the 14 years since Neal came to MCI, the program has grown from 25 in band to a program of 170 students, more than a quarter of the school’s student population.

He said his secret is to “establish excellence and repeat it. Success breeds success.”

Neal was joined at MCI two years ago by Linda Snowe, who teaches piano and voice.

He said there are many music programs across the state that are building on success. He comes from one himself: the well-known, championship-caliber Nokomis Regional High School music program in Newport.

Neal said Maine musicians and vocalists are showing that “talent is not limited to urban areas or big cities. We have extremely talented students in every school in the state.”

Chale said it simply: “Maine is just a rocking state. Maine just kicks to music.”

But what gets Neal excited are the students who work hard while still knowing that music isn’t going to be their career. “An amateur is someone who does what they do because they love it, and they will go on to be in community bands and chorus groups, church choirs,” he said.

“I would like to see the program continue to grow in the future,” said Neal. “I would like to bring in people who can foster more contemporary music, chamber music, who can develop new genres and new programs.

“We have the trophies, and that’s great. But there are so many aspects of this trip – of their entire musical education – that they will look back so fondly on,” Neal said. “I mean, I teach music, but it is what they learn about relationships, relationships with their peers, their teachers and adults, that mean more than anything. Music binds us together.”