AUBURN – Forty-nine members of the Webster Intermediate Elementary school chorus earned a “gold” rating at a tri-state music competition Friday.

The Great East Festival in North Andover, Mass., was the first competition of its type for his pupils, music teacher Jim Raymond said. The singers, in grades four to six, went up against 13 other middle school choruses.

Choruses were awarded ratings from bronze to platinum. The Webster chorus members had practiced once a week after school to get ready.

Elijah Moreshead, 10, said he was happy the group received a higher rating than some groups of older students. And the experience “was just pretty cool,” he said Saturday.

– Kathryn Skelton