Award-winning music program at SSIMS

The Silver Spring International Middle School instrumental and choral music groups participated in the Music in the Parks competition held at Hershey Park on May 28, 2010. Music In The Parks is a national organization that provides amusement park music competitions and student music festivals for student bands, student orchestras, student choirs and other student music groups.

* Treble Choir received a 1st place trophy

* Jazz Ensemble received a 1st place trophy and "Best Overall"

* String Orchestra received a 3rd place trophy with a rating of Excellent

* Combined Concert Band (Intermediate & Advanced Band) received a 3rd place trophy with a rating of Excellent

* Sixth-grader Rowyn Peel was awarded "Outstanding Vocalist 2010" for her Treble Choir solo

Congratulations to all of the SSIMS musicians for their participation and their terrific showing! And congratulations and thank yous to Dr. Dillon (chorus) and Mr. Dawson (instrumental) for all their hard work and dedication to our young musicians.

Doug Bowles sings with the Congressional Chorus

Saturday, November 14 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm

SingCo Music's "silver tongued crooner" Doug Bowles joins the Congressional Chorus -- directed by David Simmons -- on this concert of contemporary arrangements of American Folk Songs and Sprituals.

This wonderful 70-voice chorus has been a collaborator with the SingCo Rhythm Orchestra on two other events in recent years, and now SRO's Maestro appears as one of three guests soloists to show off his chops in an arrangement of LITTLE DAVID PLAY ON YOUR HARP that feels almost like it came out of the SRO playbook.

Other fine soloists on this concert include: Rhea Walker, Soprano and Aaron McNeil, baritone.

Tickets are $28 and are available at www.chorusmarket.org.

Location: Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC