FARMINGTON – The Mt. Blue Middle School Show Choir left its imprint on the State Vocal Jazz Festival on March 31 by receiving the triple honor of achieving second place overall and producing both the Outstanding Male Vocalist and the Outstanding Female Vocalist in the Division I competition.

The statewide event involved 17 middle school show choirs selected competitively from the broader statewide pool and featured hundreds of middle school student performers. Acts were judged by a panel of music professionals, including faculty from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

The choir act consisted of nine songs from the current Broadway musical, “Wicked,” and involved solos by Marina West, Louisa Stancioff, Andreas Wyder, Matt West and Megan Collins.

All the school soloists received the highest possible rankings from the judges.

Ensemble members include Jessica Baxter, Alex Chandler, Megan Collins, Ashlie Hardy, Jeni Hinds, Katie Holbrook, Kelsey Kidd, Alix Mason, Courney Qi, Emily Reed, Eliza Richard, Morgan Spencer, Margaret Steward, Ashley Taylor and Miranda Voter.

Judges’ written comments regarding the school’s act included, “Very nice group!!” and “Great group of kids!” The Berklee judge noted: “Polished! Very engaging program! Everyone seems to be working together – loved it!”

The group received a second-place trophy for the act and Matt West was named Outstanding Male Vocalist and Louisa Stancioff as Outstanding Female Vocalist for the Division I competition.

“This is quite an accomplishment,” said John Reeves, vocal jazz chairman for the Maine Music Educators Association, which organizes the festival every year.

Jim Perkins, who has directed the show choir since founding it seven seasons ago, said, “I’m just immensely proud of these kids, and I can’t say enough about their enthusiasm and how hard they have worked.”

Speaking on behalf of himself and his assistant directors, high school students Emily Pottle, Kat Zachary and Nikki Rackliff, Perkins said, “To say the least, we’re thrilled and overjoyed!”

The student team has worked on show design and choreography with the middle school group since the beginning of the school year, while Perkins directs and accompanies.

A chance to see the award-winning act will be afforded to the public at a free noon-time concert on Wednesday, May 9, in Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall, UMF campus. For more information, call 778-3513. For information about having the group perform for a civic group or organization, contact Perkins at 778-3511, ext. 239.