VMEA Blue Ribbon Award
Abingdon, HS, Abingdon
Albemarle HS, Albemarle County
Alexandria City HS, Alexandria
Annandale HS, Annadale
Battlefield HS, Haymarket
Benton MS, Manassas
Blacksburg MS, Blacksburg
Brambleton MS, Ashburn
Briar Woods HS, Ashburn
Broadway HS, Broadway
Bull Run MS, Gainesville
C.D. Hylton HS, Woodbridge
Carter G. Woodson HS, Farifax
Charles Colgan HS, Manassas
Chatham HS, Chatham
Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg
Clover Hill HS, Midlothain
Col. Fred Cherry Middle School, Suffolk
Colonial Forge HS, Stafford
Cosby HS. Midlothian
Culpeper HS, Culpeper
Deep Creek HS, Chesapeake
Deep Run HS, Glen Allen
Dominion HS, Sterling
Douglas Freeman HS, Henrico
Eaton MS, Hampton
Fairfax HS. Fairfax Co
Floyd T. Binns MS, Culpeper
Fort Defiance HS, Fort Defiance
Frank W. Cox HS, Virginia Beach
Freedom MS, Fredricksburg
Gainesville MS, Gainesville
Galax HS, Galax
George C. Marshall HS, Falls Church
Giles HS, Pearisburg
Glasgow MS, Alexandria
Gloucester HS, Gloucester
Goochland HS, Goochland
Goochland MS, Goochland
Grafton HS, Yorktown
Grafton MS, Yorktown
Granby HS, Norfolk
Grassfield HS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge MS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake
Hanover HS, Mechanicsville
Harrisonburg HS, Harrisonburg
Hickory MS, Chesapeake
Hickory HS, Chesapeake
Hidden Valley HS, Roanoke
Independence MS, Virginia Beach
Indian River HS, Chesapeake
J. Michael Lunsford MS, Chantilly
J.R. Tucker HS, Henrico
James F. Cooper MS, McLean
James River HS, Midlothian
James W. Robinson HS, Fairfax
James W. Robinson MS, Fairfax
John Champe HS, Aldie
John R. Lewis HS, Springfield
Jolliff MS, Chesapeake
Justice HS, Falls Church
Kellam HS, Virginia Beach
Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach
Kilgore Gifted Center, Hampton
King George MS, King George
​
King George HS, King George
Lafayette HS, Williamsburg
Lake Braddock HS, Burke
Landstown MS, Virginia Beach
Landstown HS, Virginia Beach
Langley HS, McLean
Lightridge HS, Aldie
Lloyd C. Bird HS, Chesterfield
Loudon Valley HS, Purcellville
Manassas Park MS, Manassas Park
Manassas Park HS, Manassas Park
Manchester HS, Midlothian
Maury HS, Norfolk
Meridian HS, Falls Church
Millbrook HS, Winchester
Mills E. Godwin HS, Richmond
Monacan HS, Richmond
Mount Vernon HS, Alexandria
Mountain View HS, Stafford
O.T. Bonner MS, Danville
Oakton HS, Vienna
Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach
Old Donation MS, Virginia Beach
Osbourn HS, Manassas
Osbourn Park HS, Manassas
Oscar Smith HS, Chesapeake
Patrick Henry HS, Glade Spring
Patrick Henry HS, Roanoke
Patriot HS, Nokesville
Phoenix PreK-8 Schools, Hampton
Poquoson HS, Poquoson
Potomac Shores MS, Dumfries
Powhatan HS, Powhatan
Prince George HS, Prince George
Princess Anne HS, Virginia Beach
Rachel Carson MS, Herndon
Radford HS, Radford
Robious MS, Midlothian
Rock Ridge HS, Ashburn
Salem HS, Salem
Salem HS, Virginia Beach
Short Pump MS, Henrico
South County HS, Lorton
Spotsylvania HS, Spotsyvania
Spotsylvania MS, Spotsylvania
Stafford HS, Falmouth
Staunton HS, Staunton
Stone Bridge HS, Ashburn
Stone Hill MS, Ashburn
Tabb MS, Yorktown
Tallwood HS, Virginia Beach
Thoreau MS, Vienna
Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater
Tuscarora HS, Leesburg
Twain MS, Alexandria
Warhill HS, Williamsburg
Washington Liberty HS, Arlington
West Potomac HS, Alexandria
West Springfield HS, Springfield
Western Branch HS, Chesapeake
Western Branch MS, Chesapeake
Westfield HS, Chantilly
Willard MS, Aldie
Woodbridge Senior HS, Woodbridge
Yorktown HS, Arlington
Congratulations to the 130 schools in the Commonwealth for earning the VMEA Blue Ribbon Award!
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. Eligibility is outlined below.
​
​
​
​
2026 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 will open in March of 2026. 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 10, 2026.
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).
​
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.
​
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: 20+ Years
Blue Ribbon School Award: 15+ Years
​
James W. Robinson HS, Fairfax
James W. Robinson MS, Fairfax
​
Albemarle HS, Albemarle
Colonial Forge HS, Stafford
Deep Run HS, Glen Allen
Harrisonburg HS, Harrisonburg
James Madison HS, Vienna
James W. Robinson HS, Fairfax
James W. Robinson MS, Fairfax
Langley HS, McLean
Millbrook HS, Winchester
Oakton HS, Vienna
Princess Anne HS, Virginia Beach
Rachel Carson MS, Herndon
Sherando HS, Stephens City
West Springfield HS, Springfield
Woodbridge Sr. HS, Woodbridge
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
Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg
Clover Hill HS, Midlothian
Cosby HS, Midlothian
Corporate Landing MS, Virginia Beach
Forest Park HS, Woodbridge
Frank W. Cox HS, Virginia Beach
Freedom MS, Spotsylvania
Robert Frost MS, Fairfax
George C. Marshall HS, Falls Church
Grafton HS, Yorktown
Great Neck MS, Virginia Beach
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
​Monacan HS, Richmond
Mountain View HS, Stafford Co
Patrick Henry HS, Glade Spring
Patriot HS, Nokesville
Plaza MS, Virginia Beach
​Sherando HS, Stephens City
Thomas Dale HS. Chester
W.T. Woodson HS, Fairfax
​
Blue Ribbon School Award: 5-9 Years
Alexandria City HS, Alexandria
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
​Colonial Heights MS, Colonial Heights
​Culpeper County HS, Culpeper
Douglas Freeman HS, Henrico
Eastern View HS, Culpeper Co
Fairfax HS, Fairfax Co
Falls Church HS, Fairfax Co
Fort Defiance HS, Fort Defiance
​Franklin MS, Chantilly
Freedom HS, South Riding
Gainesville MS, Gainesville
Gainesville HS, Gainesville
Gar-Field HS, Woodbridge
Glasgow MS, Alexandria
Glass E.C. HS, Lynchburg
Glen Allen HS, Glen Allen
Gloucester HS, Gloucester
Grafton MS, Yorktown
Granby HS, Norfolk
Grassfield HS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge MS, Chesapeake
Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake
Hanover HS, Mechanicsville
Hayfield HS, Alexandria
Hayfield MS, 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
Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach
Kettle Run HS, Nokesville
King George HS, King George
King George MS, King George
Landstown MS, Virginia Beach
Lanier MS, Fairfax Co
Lightridge HS, Aldie
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
Menchville HS, Newport News
Midlothian MS, Midlothian
Mills E. Godwin HS, Richmond
James Monroe HS, Fredericksburg
Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach
Orange County HS, Orange
Osbourn HS, Manassas
Osbourn Park HS, Manassas
​Edgar Allen Poe MS, Annandale
Poquoson MS, Poquoson
Poquoson HS, Poquoson
Potomac HS, Dumfries
Powhatan HS, Powhatan
Richlands HS, Richlands
Robious MS. Midlothian
Rock Ridge HS, Ashburn
Salem MS, Virginia Beach
Salem HS, Virginia Beach
Salem HS, Salem
South County MS, Lorton
South Lakes HS, Reston
Spotsylvania HS, Spotsylvania
Stafford HS, Falmouth
Stone Hill MS, Ashburn
South County HS, Lorton
Justice HS, Falls Church
Tabb HS, Yorktown
Tallwood HS, Virginia Beach
Thoreau MS, Vienna
Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater
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
Willard MS, Aldie
T.C. Williams HS, Alexandria
Yorktown HS, Arlington
Blue Ribbon School Award: 1-4 Years
Abingdon HS, Abingdon
Admiral Richard E Byrd MS, Winchester
​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
Chatam HS, Chatam
Charlottesville Catholic School, Charlottesville
Chickahominy MS, Mechanicsville
Chilhowie HS, Chilhowie
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
East Rockingham HS, Elkton
Eaton MS, Hampton
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
Fluvanna HS, Fluvanna
​Freedom HS, Woodbridge
G.W. Carver MS, Chester
Gainesville HS, Gainesville
Galax HS, Galax
George H. Moody MS, Henrico
George Washington HS, Danville
Gildersleeve MS, Newport News
Giles HS, Pearisburg
Glade Spring MS, Glade Spring
Goochland MS, Goochland​
Goochland HS, Goochland​
Green Run HS, Virginia Beach
H.H.Poole MS, Stafford
Hampton HS, Hampton
Heritage HS, Lynchburg
Heritage HS, Newport News
Hermitage HS, Henrico
Herndon MS, Herndon
Hidden Valley HS, Roanoke
Hines MS. Newport News
Holmes MS, Alexandria
Holston HS, Damascus
Hopewell HS, Hopewell
I.C. Norcom HS, Portsmouth
Independence MS, Virginia Beach
Indian River HS, Chesapeake
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
Kecoughtan HS, Hampton
Kellam HS, Virginia Beach​
Key, Francis Scott MS, Springfield
​
Kilgore Gifted Center, Hampton
King William HS, King William
Lafayette HS, Williamsburg
Landstown HS, Virginia Beach
Langston Hughes MS, Reston
Robert E. Lee HS, Springfield
Liberty HS, Bealeton
Liberty MS, Clifton
Liberty MS, Ashland
​Lloyd C. Bird HS, Chesterfield
Locust Grove MS, Locust Grove
Loudoun County HS, Leesburg
Loudon Valley HS, Purcellville
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
Meridian HS, Falls Church
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
​Oscar Smith HS, Chesapeake
Page MS, Gloucester
Parkside MS, Manassas
Patrick Henry HS, Ashland
Patrick Henry HS, Roanoke
Peasley MS, Gloucester
Petersburg HS, Petersburg
Phoenix PreK-8 Schools, Hampton
Pocahontus MS, Powhatan
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
​Rocky Run MS, Chantilly
Salem Church MS, Richmond
​Saunders MS, Manassas
Shelburne MS, Staunton
Short Pump MS, Henrico
Simpson, J. Lupton MS, Leesburg
Smarts Mill MS, Leesburg
​Spotswood HS, Penn Laird
Spotsylvania MS, Spotsylvania
Spratley MS. Hampton
Stonebridge HS, Ashburn
Swanson MS, Arlington
Tabb MS, Yorktown
Tazewell HS, Tazewell
Thomas A Edison HS, Fairfax Co
Thomas Jefferson HSST, Alexandria
Thomas Eaton MS, Hampton
Thornburg MS, Spotsylvania
Tuckahoe MS. Richmond
Tuscarora HS, Leesburg
Twain MS, Alexandria
Virginia MS, Bristol
Walker Grant MS, Fredricksburg
Warrenton MS, Warrenton
Washington Irving MS, Springfield
Western Branch MS, Chesapeake
​William C. Taylor MS, Warrenton
Williamsburg MS, Arlington
Woodgrove HS, Purcellville
Woodside HS, Newport News
Wythe, George HS, Wytheville
York HS, Yorktown