VMEA Blue Ribbon Award
The 2025 Blue Ribbon Award Application is open. See below for award criteria.
Award applications are due April 4, 2025. ​​
A.G. Wright MS, Stafford
Albemarle HS, Albemarle County
Alexandria City HS, Alexandria
Auburn MS, Warrenton
Battlefield HS, Haymarket
Blacksburg HS, Blacksburg
Brambleton MS, Ashburn
Briar Woods HS, Ashburn
Broadway HS, Broadway
Brookville MS, Lynchburg
Carl Sandburg MS, Alexandria
Centreville HS, Clifton
Chancellor HS, Spotsylvania
Chantilly HS, Chantilly
Charles Colgan HS, Manassas
Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg
Clover Hill HS, Midlothian
Colonel Fred Cherry MS, Suffolk
Colonial Forge HS, Stafford
Colonial Heights MS, Colonial Heights
Cosby HS. Midlothian
Crestwood MS, Chesapeake
Deep Run HS, Glen Allen
Douglas Freeman HS, Henrico
E.B. Stanley MS, Abingdon
Eastern View HS, Culpeper Co'
Edgar Allan Poe MS, Annandale
Edward E. Drew MS, Falmouth
Elisabeth Davis MS, Chester
Fairfax HS. Fairfax Co
Forest Park HS, Woodbridge
Freedom HS, South Riding
Freedom HS, Woodbridge
Freedom MS, Spotsylvania
Frost MS, Fairfax
Gainesville HS, Gainesville
George C. Marshall HS, Falls Church
Glasgow MS, Alexandria
Glen Allen HS, Glen Allen
Grafton HS, Yorktown
Grassfield HS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge MS, Chesapeake
Green Run HS, Virginia Beach
Hanover HS. Mechanicsville
Harrisonburg HS, Harrisonburg
Hayfield HS, Alexandria
Hickory MS, Chesapeake
Hopewell HS, Hopewell
J.R. Tucker HS, Henrico
James F. Cooper MS, McLean
James Madison HS, Vienna
James Monroe HS, Fredricksburg
James River HS, Midlothian
James W. Robinson HS, Fairfax
James W. Robinson MS, Fairfax
John S. Battle HS, Bristol
Justice HS, Falls Church
Katherine Johnson MS, Fairfax
Kettle Run HS, Nokesville
Kilgore Gifted Center, Hampton
Kilmer MS, Vienna
King George MS, King George
Lafayette HS, Williamsburg
Lake Braddock HS, Burke
Lake Braddock MS, Burke
Langley HS, McLean
Lightridge HS, Aldie
Lloyd C. Bird HS, Chesterfield
Longfellow MS, Falls Church
Louisa MS, Mineral
Luther Jackson MS, Falls Church
Maggie Walker Governors School, Richmond
Manassas Park HS, Manassas
Manassas Park MS, Manassas
Mark Twain MS, Alexandria
Marstellar MS, Bristow
Massaponax HS, Spotsylvania
Maury HS, Norfolk
McLean HS, McLean
Menchville HS, Newport News
Meridian HS, Falls Church
Midlothian MS, Midlothian
Mills E. Godwin HS, Richmond
Monacan HS, Richmond
Mount Vernon HS, Alexandria
Mountain View HS, Stafford
Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach
Old Donation MS, Virginia Beach
Orange County HS, Orange
Osbourn Park HS, Manassas
Oscar Smith HS, Chesapeake
Patrick Henry HS, Glade Spring
Patriot HS, Nokesville
Peasley MS, Gloucester
Phoenix PreK-8 Schools, Hampton
Plaza MS, Virginia Beach
Poquoson HS, Poquoson
Poquoson MS, Poquoson
Potomac Shores MS, Dumfries
Powhatan HS, Powhatan
Prince George HS, Prince George
Princess Anne HS, Virginia Beach
Princess Anne MS, Virginia Beach
Rachel Carson MS, Herndon
Riverbend HS, Spotsylvania
Rock Ridge HS, Ashburn
Salem HS, Salem
Salem HS, Virginia Beach
Salem Middle School, Virginia Beach
Sherando HS, Stephens City
Short Pump MS, Henrico
South County HS, Lorton
South County MS, Lorton
South Lakes HS, Reston
Spotsylvania MS, Spotsylvania
Stafford HS, Falmouth
Tabb HS, Yorktown
Tabb MS, Yorktown
Tallwood HS, Virginia Beach
Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater
W.T. Woodson HS, Fairfax
Walker Grant MS, Fredricksburg
Warhill HS, Williamsburg
Washington Liberty HS, Arlington
Western Branch HS, Chesapeake
Westfield HS, Chantilly
Willard MS, Aldie
Williamsburg MS, Arlington
Woodbridge Senior HS, Woodbridge
Woodgrove HS, Purcellville
Yorktown HS, Arlington
The VMEA Blue Ribbon Award is the highest award given to schools music programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognizes achieved excellence in Band, Orchestra, and Choral Performance. All top eligible performing groups must receive a final Superior rating at VMEA District Concert Performance Assessment to qualify for this award.
CONGRATULATIONS to the following schools on their achievement in 2024.
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2024 BLUE RIBBON AWARD SCHOOLS
Application
All schools must complete the Online Declaration Form which designates the top performing group of the genre. This must be one of the groups performing the highest grade of literature.
The Online Form is open and will close on April 5. Only schools who have met eligibility at Assessments need to apply. Those received after this date will not be eligible for the award. The form will be deleted from the VMEA website on April 4, 2025.
Evaluation Criteria
Superior performance as evidenced by the district festival rating from each of the top performing groups of each ensemble course taught at the school (band, choir, and orchestra).
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In order to be considered for the Blue Ribbon Award the top performing groups MUST perform two pieces from approved graded music lists (Band and Orchestra from the VBODA manual, Choirs from the Virginia, New York or Texas lists), not to include the warm-up selection. When performing music of two different grade levels the group will be classified at the lower grade level of music.
All groups must sight read or sight sing to be eligible for this award at the District Performance Assessment. Bands and Orchestras must select Option 1 as listed in the VBODA Manual.
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Note: All top eligible performing groups must receive a final Superior rating at VMEA District Concert Performance Assessment. Multi-school combined ensembles are not eligible as an individual school's representative ensemble for this award.
Recognition
The recognition will consist of a certificate and cover letter of congratulations mailed to the Principal of the school.
Eligible schools may obtain the Blue Ribbon Pin for individual students as listed at the top of this page.
Blue Ribbon Award Medals may be ordered from the Bale Company.
PAST BLUE RIBBON AWARD RECIPIENTS
Blue Ribbon School Award: 15+ Years
Albemarle HS, Albemarle
Colonial Forge HS, Stafford
Deep Run HS, Glen Allen
James Madison HS, Vienna
James W. Robinson HS, Fairfax
James W. Robinson MS, Fairfax
Langley HS, McLean
Oakton HS, Vienna
Rachel Carson MS, Herndon
West Springfield HS, Springfield
Blue Ribbon School Award: 10-14 Years
Annandale HS, Annandale
Battlefield HS, Haymarket
Blacksburg HS, Blacksburg
Blacksburg MS, Christiansburg
Broadway HS, Broadway
Carl Sandburg MS, Alexandria
Chancellor HS, Spotsylvania
Charlottesville HS, Charlottesville
Clover Hill HS, Midlothian
Corporate Landing MS, Virginia Beach
Forest Park HS, Woodbridge
Freedom MS, Spotsylvania
Robert Frost MS, Fairfax
Grafton HS, Yorktown
Great Neck MS, Virginia Beach
Harrisonburg HS, Harrisonburg
Kemps Landing Magnet School, Virginia Beach
Kilmer MS, Vienna
Lake Braddock HS, Burke
Lake Braddock MS, Burke
Luther Jackson MS, Falls Church
Midlothian HS, Midlothian
Millbrook HS, Winchester
Monacan HS, Richmond
Mountain View HS, Stafford Co
Patriot HS, Nokesville
Plaza MS, Virginia Beach
Princess Anne HS, Virginia Beach
Sherando HS, Stephens City
W.T. Woodson HS, Fairfax
Woodbridge Sr. HS, Woodbridge
Blue Ribbon School Award: 5-9 Years
A.G. Wright MS, Stafford
Benton MS, Manassas
Briar Woods HS, Ashburn
Brooke Point HS, Stafford Co
Brookville HS, Lynchburg
Brookville MS, Lynchburg
Bull Run MS, Gainesville
C.D. Hylton HS, Woodbridge
Centreville HS, Clifton
Chantilly HS, Chantilly
Charles Colgan HS, Manassas
Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg
Colonial Heights MS, Colonial Heights
Cosby HS, Midlothian
Culpeper County HS, Culpeper
Douglas Freeman HS, Henrico
Eastern View HS, Culpeper Co
Fairfax HS, Fairfax Co
Falls Church HS, Fairfax Co
Frank W. Cox HS, Virginia Beach
Franklin MS, Chantilly
Freedom HS, South Riding
Gainesville MS, Gainesville
Gainesville HS, Gainesville
Gar-Field HS, Woodbridge
George C. Marshall HS, Falls Church
Glasgow MS, Alexandria
Glass E.C. HS, Lynchburg
Glen Allen HS, Glen Allen
Grafton MS, Yorktown
Great Bridge MS, Chesapeake
Hayfield HS, Alexandria
Herndon HS, Herndon
Hickory MS, Chesapeake
Hickory HS, Chesapeake
J. Michael Lunsford MS, Chantilly
J.R. Tucker HS, Henrico
James River HS, Midlothian
John Champe HS, Aldie
Kempsville MS, Virginia Beach
Kettle Run HS, Nokesville
King George HS, King George
Lanier MS, Fairfax Co
Longfellow MS, Falls Church
Manassas Park HS, Manassas Park
Manchester HS, Midlothian
Mark Twain MS, Alexandria
Marsteller MS, Bristow
Mason George HS, Falls Church
Massaponax HS, Spotsylvania
Midlothian MS, Midlothian
James Monroe HS, Fredericksburg
Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach
Orange County HS, Orange
Osbourn Park HS, Manassas
Patrick Henry HS, Glade Spring
Edgar Allen Poe MS, Annandale
Poquoson MS, Poquoson
Potomac HS, Dumfries
Powhatan HS, Powhatan
Richlands HS, Richlands
Rock Ridge HS, Ashburn
Salem MS, Virginia Beach
Salem HS, Salem
South County MS, Lorton
South Lakes HS, Reston
Spotsylvania HS, Spotsylvania
Stafford HS, Falmouth
Stone Hill MS, Ashburn
Justice HS, Falls Church
Tabb HS, Yorktown
Tallwood HS, Virginia Beach
Thomas Dale HS. Chester
Thoreau MS, Vienna
Virginia HS, Bristol
Washington Liberty HS,. Arlington
George Washington MS, Alexandria
Warhill HS, Williamsburg
West Potomac HS, Alexandria
Western Branch HS, Chesapeake
Westfield HS, Chantilly
T.C. Williams HS, Alexandria
Blue Ribbon School Award: 1-4 Years
Abingdon HS, Abingdon
Admiral Richard E Byrd MS, Winchester
Alexandria City HS, Alexandria
Alleghany HS, Covington
Appomattox Reg. Gov. School, Petersburg
Auburn MS, Warrenton
Azalea Gardens MS, Norfolk
Bailey Bridge MS, Midlothian
Battlefield MS, Spotsylvania
Belmont Ridge MS, Leesburg
Bethel HS, Hampton
Brambleton MS, Ashburn
Brandon MS, Virginia Beach
Brentsville District HS, Nokesville
Broad Run HS, Ashburn
Bruton HS, Williamsburg-James City
Buford MS, Charlottesville City
Central HS, Woodstock
Charles City HS, Charles City
Charlottesville Catholic School, Charlottesville
Chickahominy MS, Mechanicsville
Colonel Fred Cherry MS, Suffolk
Colonial Heights HS, Colonial Heights
Courtland HS, Spotsylvania
Crestwood MS, Chesapeake
Culpeper MS, Culpeper
Daniel Morgan MS, Winchester
Davis, Elizabeth MS, Chester
Deep Creek HS, Chesapeake
Dominion HS, Sterling
E.B. Stanley MS, Abingdon
Eagle Ridge MS, Asburn
Edward E. Drew MS, Falmouth
Elko MS, Sandston
Fauquier HS, Warrenton
First Colonial HS, Virginia Beach City
Floyd T. Binns MS, Culpeper
Fort Defiance HS, Fort Defiance
Freedom HS, Woodbridge
G.W. Carver MS, Chester
Gainesville HS, Gainesville
George H. Moody MS, Henrico
George Washington HS, Danville
Gildersleeve MS, Newport News
Gloucester HS, Gloucester
Granby HS, Norfolk
Grassfield HS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake
Green Run HS, Virginia Beach
H.H.Poole MS, Stafford
Hampton HS, Hampton
Hanover HS, Mechanicsville
Hayfield MS, Alexandria
Heritage HS, Lynchburg
Heritage HS, Newport News
Hermitage HS, Henrico
Herndon MS, Herndon
Hines MS. Newport News
Holmes MS, Alexandria
Hopewell HS, Hopewell
I.C. Norcom HS, Portsmouth
Independence MS, Virginia Beach
Jackson, Stonewall HS, Manassas
Jackson, Stonewall MS, Mechanicsville
James F. Cooper MS, McLean
James Wood HS, Winchester
James Wood MS, Winchester
Jamestown HS, Williamsburg
Jefferson Forest HS, Forest
John S. Battle HS, Bristol
Jolliff MS, Chesapeake
Justice HS, Falls Church
Katherine Johnson MS, Fairfax
Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach
Key, Francis Scott MS, Springfield
Kilgore Gifted Center, Hampton
King George MS, King George
King William HS, King William
Lafayette HS, Williamsburg
Landstown HS, Virginia Beach
Landstown MS, Virginia Beach
Langston Hughes MS, Reston
Robert E. Lee HS, Springfield
Liberty HS, Bealeton
Liberty MS, Clifton
Liberty MS, Ashland
Lightridge HS, Aldie
Lloyd C. Bird HS, Chesterfield
Locust Grove MS, Locust Grove
Loudoun County HS, Leesburg
Louisa MS, Mineral
Maggie Walker Governors School, Richmond
Manassas Park MS, Manassas Park
Manchester MS, Richmond
Marshall MS, The Plains
Matoaca HS, Chesterfield
Maury HS, Norfolk
McLean HS, McLean
Menchville HS, Newport News
Meridian HS, Falls Church
Mills E. Godwin HS, Richmond
Mount Vernon HS, Alexandira
North Stafford HS, Stafford Co
Northside MS, Norfolk
O.T. Bonner MS, Danville
Oak Knoll MS, Mechanicsville
Old Donation MS, Virginia Beach
Osbourn HS, Manassas
Oscar Smith HS, Chesapeake
Page MS, Gloucester
Patrick Henry HS, Ashland
Patrick Henry HS, Roanoke
Peasley MS, Gloucester
Petersburg HS, Petersburg
Phoenix PreK-8 Schools, Hampton
Pocahontus MS, Powhatan
Poquoson HS, Poquoson
Powhatan MS, Powhatan
Prince George HS. Prince George
Princess Anne MS. Virginia Beach
Prospect Height MS, Orange
Pulaski County HS, Pulaski
Radford HS, Radford
River Bend MS, Sterling
Riverbend HS. Spotsylvania
Riverside HS, Leesburg
Robert E Aylor MS, Stephens City
Robert E Lee HS, Staunton
Robious MS. Midlothian
Rocky Run MS, Chantilly
Salem Church MS, Richmond
Salem HS, Virginia Beach
Saunders MS, Manassas
Shelburne MS, Staunton
Short Pump MS, Henrico
Simpson, J. Lupton MS, Leesburg
Smarts Mill MS, Leesburg
South County HS, Lorton
Spotswood HS, Penn Laird
Spotsylvania MS, Spotsylvania
Spratley MS. Hampton
Tabb MS, Yorktown
Tazewell HS, Tazewell
Thomas A Edison HS, Fairfax Co
Thomas Jefferson HSST, Alexandria
Thornburg MS, Spotsylvania
Tuckahoe MS. Richmond
Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater
Virginia MS, Bristol
Walker Grant MS, Fredricksburg
Warrenton MS, Warrenton
Washington Irving MS, Springfield
Western Branch MS, Chesapeake
Willard MS, Aldie
William C. Taylor MS, Warrenton
Williamsburg MS, Arlington
Woodgrove HS, Purcellville
Woodside HS, Newport News
Wythe, George HS, Wytheville
York HS, Yorktown
Yorktown HS, Arlington