Phillippi Shores Elementary School musical groups excel at Music USA Festival held in Orlando

This is the fourth year the school has sent students to the event

The Phillippi Shores Elementary School PYP-Sticks perform during the elementary percussion division of their competition. Contributed photo
The Phillippi Shores Elementary School PYP-Sticks perform during the elementary percussion division of their competition. Contributed photo

During the Music USA Festival held recently at Universal Studios Orlando, the 18-member PYP-Sticks group from Phillippi Shores Elementary School in Sarasota won first place in the elementary percussion division of their competition, and the school’s 60-member Show Choir received second place in the elementary choir division in which it competed, the Sarasota County School District has announced.

Both musical ensembles rehearse once a week after school hours, and both perform at school and community events, a news release notes. This is the fourth year music teacher Peggy Conrad has accompanied students to the festival, the release adds.

The Phillippi Shores Show Choir members earn second-place honors. Contributed photo
The Phillippi Shores Show Choir members earn second-place honors. Contributed photo

“This was a great opportunity for our students to perform and for their families to hear them in a professional soundstage setting,” Conrad said in the release. “This year, 51 family members attended the performances.”

The students were able to enjoy time in the Universal Studios theme park after the competition, she added.

The “PYP” part of PYP-Sticks stands for the school’s Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate system, the release explains.

Phillippi Shores Elementary is located at 4747 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.