For the 14th time, Charlottesville High School has won the highest award given to school music programs in Virginia. For the first time, one of the school’s music directors was a student.

The Virginia Music Educators Association Blue Ribbon Award goes to Virginia high schools whose top-performing music groups in band, choir, and orchestra all earn the highest possible rating – “superior” – in their spring district assessment performances.

The Charlottesville High School Orchestra and Band earned their “superior” ratings earlier in March. Last week, it was the choir’s turn, and its performance would make (or break) CHS’s chances at the Blue Ribbon. Knowing he would be unavailable to lead the choir during assessments, Choir Director Will Cooke made the unusual choice of selecting senior Elle Polifka to direct the group.

Polifka has been selected for both the highly competitive Virginia All-State Choir and for its most prestigious group, the Senior Honors Choir. She regularly leads the choir during class, particularly if there is a substitute teacher. In addition, she is concertmaster for the CHS Orchestra and is in the first violin section of Virginia’s All State Orchestra. 

“I had considered choosing an adult director in my absence. But my students were adamant – they insisted that Elle was their leader,” Cooke said. “She has won every choir or orchestra honor that Virginia offers, and they knew she could do this. They were right.”

Cooke continued: “The goal of a music educator is to build skills and self-sufficiency in your ensemble. Elle came to CHS with a significant music background, and her skills and leadership have elevated the choir. Selecting a student to direct for assessment might seem risky, but with Elle, it was a natural choice. Even so, it was stressful for me to be away. But then I started receiving texts, emails, and videos telling and showing me how magical their performance was and how proud I should be of my musicians.”

In addition to the CHS band, choir, and orchestra earning superior ratings, individual Black Knights have also won state and national honors. On top of Polifka’s state recognition in choir and orchestra, students Julia Crum and Michelle Wong recently earned spots in the All-State Band. Olivia Colvin, Avery Hoppe, and Jack Wielar are also representing CHS in All-State Choir; in addition, Jack Wielar recently performed with the American Choral Directors Association’s National Honors Choir, a group selected from more than 5,000 auditions.

“We have so much to be proud of,” said Aaron Eichorst, the division’s Coordinator of Fine & Performing Arts. “Whether you consider the individual honors of these students who have earned state or national recognition, the collective accomplishments of the CHS band, choir, and orchestra earning this year’s Blue Ribbon, or the historic view of CHS earning this award 14 times, it’s an affirmation of Charlottesville Schools’ commitment to the fine and performing arts.”

The groups are led by Band Director Jason Hackworth, Choir Director Will Cooke, and Orchestra Director Emily Waters.

Come out and see the music department’s spring concerts:

• Choir: Wednesday, April 30, 7pm, MLK PAC
• Band: Sunday, May 4, 5pm, MLK PAC
• Orchestra: Sunday, May 18, 7:30pm, MLK PAC