“It was a tremendous year for our band program in North Royalton City Schools,” said Band Director Chris Burdick. “It was one of the best I’ve ever had with our students—and this is my 31st year of teaching in North Royalton!”
Indeed, 2024–25 has been a banner year for the District’s band program. Every ensemble that participated in adjudicated events earned a Superior rating of 1 at either the district or state level. That includes the high school’s Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Freshman Band, as well as North Royalton Middle School’s 7th and 8th Grade Bands. Remarkably, no other school district in the state of Ohio can make this claim.
At the 2025 OMEA District IV Large Group Adjudicated Event, held May 10 at Avon Lake High School, both the 7th and 8th-Grade Bands earned Superior straight 1 ratings—a rare and outstanding achievement. The 8th-Grade Band, directed by Christopher Burdick, competed in Class A, while the 7th-Grade Band, directed by Michael Nary, competed in Class C. Kelly Fadrowski was on leave this semester, and the district extends a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Randy Katona, who stepped in as a long-term substitute and contributed to the bands’ continued excellence.
This is the first time since 2019 that both the 7th and 8th-Grade Bands received straight 1 ratings from all adjudicators at these contests. The last time both groups received overall Superior ratings was in 2022.
In addition to ensemble performances, individual students also shined at the 2025 OMEA District IV Solo & Ensemble Contest on March 29 at Lakewood High School. Participants from the 7th and 8th-Grade Bands included: Connor Moss, Grace Fatkins, Lillian Sopata, Anderson Ross, Penelope Thomas, Emma Garnes, Jake Mathis, JR Minch, Maggie Olexa, Carson Evangelista, Samrata Dalpat, Tim Denysyuk, Sophie Tomaszewska, Jaiden Hurley-Belardo, Kassandra Habak, and Abigail Young.
Select 8th-Grade students were also honored by being chosen for the 2025 OMEA District IV Honors Band, which performed March 8 at Berea-Midpark High School. These students included: Dakotah Amann, Syrus Cloud, Samrata Dalpat, Margaret Olexa, Jaiden Hurley-Belardo, Claire Beatty, Zoe Amburn, Mirabella Steele, Timothy Denysyuk, and Colin Kramer.
The North Royalton City Schools band program continues to set the standard for musical excellence in Ohio, with students and directors working together to achieve an unforgettable year of accolades and artistry.
