The Sycamore Canyon Choir recently participated in a competition involving schools throughout California. The 28 participating choir members won first place in the A division and went on to win first place against other middle school choirs on May 14.

This is the first year the middle school had a choir.

Sycamore Canyon received a superior rating in competition against Coronado Middle School of Coronado and Greenfield Middle School from El Cajon in the A division for smaller schools.

For first place overall, the school competed against seven other choirs.

Sycamore Canyon’s overall score was 98.5 out of a possible 100, five points higher than Chula Vista Performing Arts, a magnet school with an auditioned choir. One judge presented the choir with a perfect score.

The Sycamore Canyon music department also won the Esprit de Corps award, which is based on the deportment, manners and discipline the students show from the moment they arrive on site.

John Sargent, the high school music director at Newbury Park High School, assisted with coaching. He worked with the choir on Latin vowels, form, facial expression and dynamics.

Janice Hauge is the music director at Sycamore Canyon Middle School in Newbury Park.