Founded in 1981, Music in the Parks is a day-long or two-day festival for student choral, orchestral, and band ensembles, held annually across the United States. Music groups perform before adjudicators who rate the ensemble in the morning, and then spend the day at an amusement park. The day culminates with an awards ceremony.

DC Middle School Band and Choirs competed with great success at the Music in the Parks competition at Dorney Park on Friday, May 19. After departing from DC early in the morning to make it on time to their competition at Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem, PA. The Girls Choir performance of Changes, by Audrey Snyder and Jubilate Deo, arr. Christi Miller, helped them to capture a 1st place win with a Superior Rating, and the much coveted Best Overall Choir Award. In addition, all top three female vocalist prizes were awarded to DC students: Ruby Jones ’27, Neriah Woods ’29, and Miriam Creeden ’29. 

The Boys Choir performed an energetic rendition of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, arr. Jeff Funk, and were recognized with a 1st place win with an Excellent Rating. The Middle School Band received second prize with an excellent rating  for their performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition, arr. Michael Sweeney and The Cherry Tree, arr. Brian Beck.