From April 25 to 28, the Harmonie avancée from Cité-des-Jeunes high school was in New York to take part in the Heritage Festival, a large-scale musical competition held at Riverside Church, an interdenominational church in the northern part of Manhattan.

After months of intensive practice and meticulous work, the musicians and their conductor were
ready to perform the three pieces in their repertoire on Saturday, April 27. They played exceptionally well, and impressed the three judges and the entire Festival team with the high quality of their performance.

They won the Mention Or, the trophy awarded to all groups scoring 92% or more, and, the ultimate honor, they won the only trophy awarded to the Festival's best wind band, with a superb score of 98%.

Advanced wind band musicians Émilie Nguyen (flute) and Loïc Vallée (horn) were also rewarded, receiving two of the three Maestro prizes awarded by the judges to outstanding participants. The orchestra was one of three ensembles to receive an invitation to participate in the “Festival of Golds” to be held in Chicago and Nashville later next year.

In addition to competing, the young musicians had the chance to take part in a 90-minute workshop led by a professional musician and teacher at New York University. 

Finally, what would a trip to the Big Apple be without a visit to Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, Time Square, Central Park and a Broadway show? Their stay ended with a dinner cruise, during which they danced and admired the legendary Statue of Liberty.