High School Wins Music, Theater Awards In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA—Music and theater programs at Osbourn High School recently picked up honors for their efforts during the 2018-19 academic year, according to Manassas City Public Schools. On the music end, the school at 9005 Tudor Lane (1977 Eagle Way) will hold a ceremony 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, "to celebrate the recognition and the hard work of the performing arts ensembles and music teachers who implemented the highest ideals of music education."

Here's a look at the award-winning efforts:

• The Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) recognized Osbourn as a Blue Ribbon School. The award is the highest honor given to school music programs in Virginia, and recognizes school performing arts programs that achieve excellence in Band, Orchestra, and Choral Performance. All disciplines in a single school must receive a rating of "Superior" at assessments during the school year to qualify for the award, according to the VMEA website.

"This is a great day for our music students and we are all pleased that Osbourn will receive this
prestigious recognition," Osbourn principal Joe Gabalski said in a release. "I want to thank all of our students for their efforts this past year. I also want to thank our fine arts teachers Mr. Wassum, Ms. Easley, Ms. St. Pierre and Ms. Rubach for making the commitment to pursue this honor."

• Also, the Virginia Band & Orchestra Director's Association (VBODA) recognized OHS as a Virginia Honor Band school. The VBODA recognizes schools that demonstrate excellence with a comprehensive Band program, and the designation is the highest awarded by the state. This is the first school year OHS has qualified as a Virginia Honor Band in more than 20 years.
• Finally, the Critics' Awards Program, also known as Cappies, awarded Osbourn theater students for costumes they designed for a production of Beauty and the Beast. Regional critics and peers from the Cappies organization presented Charlotte Thomas, Juliana Misas-Segovia and Jordan Drake with a trophy at the 20th annual Cappies Gala at the Kennedy Center on Monday, May 27.

"Congratulations to our three student leaders of our costume department,” OHS Theater teacher Stephen Harvey said in a release. "Many students helped make these fantastic costumes a reality, with those three leading the charge."

The Cappies is a writing and awards program that trains high school theatre and journalism students to be expert writers, critical thinkers, and leaders, according the Cappies of the National Capital Area website. Student critics vie to be published in local media outlets by attending productions at other schools and writing critical reviews.