BAR HARBOR — Jazz bands, combos and show choirs from Mount Desert Island’s high school and middle schools will be going on to their respective state competitions after receiving top rankings at the Feb. 27 District VI Jazz Festival at Mount Desert Island High School.

A member of the Mount Desert Island High School Show Choir sings a song from “Jekyll and Hyde.”— EARL BRECHLIN PHOTO

Mr. Granholm directed the high school’s jazz bands, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“The kids did better than I expected – as always,” Mr. Granholm proudly proclaimed Monday. “You slave away in rehearsals and you’re never quite satisfied and then the competition comes and they nail it.”

Darth Vader performed Thad Jones’ “Kids Are Pretty People,” Graham Breedlove’s “Festival Time in the Ville” and the Isham Jones standard “It Had To Be You,” which featured a Harry Connick-like vocal by Evan Hendricks. Soloist awards were presented to Mr. Hendricks, drummer Ethan Blake, trumpet player Rebecca Edgecomb, alto saxophonist Carl Ferm and tenor saxophonist Calvin Tweedie.

Obi-Wan Kenobi performed Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite,” Bill Liston’s “Song for J.R.” and “Brass Machine” by Mark Taylor. The judges presented soloist awards to Elizabeth Dunbar, piano; Emily Dunbar, trumpet; Gordon Falt, percussion; Matt Harkins, alto saxophone; Andrew Joyce, drums; and Adam Perruzzi, trombone.

Two combos, Big Bird and Cool New Socks, were directed by Phil Kell.

Big Bird performed Miles Davis’ “All Blues,” Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” and a jazz arrangement of the “Sesame Street Theme.” Soloist awards were presented to Elizabeth Dunbar on piano, Emily Dunbar on trumpet, Matt Harkins on alto saxophone and Summer Keith, drums.

Soloists with Cool New Socks receiving awards were Taylor LaCasse on bass, Adam Perruzzi on trombone, Jarrett Sanner on guitar and Iz Ward on tenor saxophone. The combo played Sonny Rollins’ “Doxy,” Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” and Lee Morgan’s “Sidewinder.”

The third combo from the high school was self-directed. Calling themselves Richard Scary and the Heart-takers, the group consisted of Rebecca Edgecomb, trumpet; Carl Ferm, alto saxophone; Evan Hendricks, alto saxophone; Stephanie Leonardi, vocals and Calvin Tweedie, tenor saxophone. All five members received soloist awards. They performed John Coltrane’s “Grand Central,” Vernon Duke’s “Autumn in New York” and Eden Ahbez’s “Nature Boy.”

The high school jazz bands and combos will next compete at the State Instrumental High School Jazz Festival at South Portland on March 13 and 14.

The high school show choir, directed by Bronwyn Kortge, performed selections from the Broadway musical “Jekyll and Hyde.”

The show choir is scheduled to compete at the State Vocal Jazz Festival in Houlton on April 4. Also heading to that competition is the island’s only middle school show choir, The Pemetic Elementary Show Choir.

The Pemetic show choir, directed by Ed Michaud, performed songs from the musical “Enchanted.” Like its high school counterpart, the group received a one ranking from the judges.

“I’m extremely pleased,” Mr. Michaud said. “This is probably the strongest showing we had in the five years we’ve had the show choir.”

Soloists receiving awards were Catie Forthofer, Caroline Homer, Sara Norberg and Cara Willey.

The four middle school jazz bands from Mount Desert Island are going on to the State Instrumental Jazz Festival at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport on March 28.

The Mount Desert Elementary School Jazz Band, directed by Heather Graves, received a one rating for its performance of “Hog Squealin’ Rip Snortin’ Bellyachin’ Blues,” “Blue and Sentimental” and “Caribbean Dance.”

“The kids had a great performance,” Ms. Graves said. All the band’s soloists received awards: drummer Andrew Dalton, alto saxophonists Madison Luck and Sarah Norwood, tenor saxophonist Max Mason, trumpeters Keating McFarland and Tyler Wood, pianist Nicholas Wray and, on French horn, Francis Snyder.

The Pemetic Jazz Band, also directed by Mr. Michaud, received a two rating for its performance of Bobby Timmons “Moanin’,” Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia” and Duke Ellington’s “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be.”

“They had a solid performance,” Mr. Michaud said.

Soloist awards went to alto saxophonists Hannah Carroll, Catie Forthofer, Maeve Geary and Caroline Homer; trumpeter Sunshine Myrick and tenor saxophonist Mica Perruzzi.

The Tremont Consolidated School Jazz Band also received a two rating. Directed by Wanda Whitener, the band performed “Secret Agent Man,” “When I Fall in Love” and “Woodchopper’s Ball.”

“I thought they did very well, they played their best,” Ms. Whitener said. “We still have a lot of work to do before the states.”

Receiving soloist awards were alto saxophonists Sean Beaulieu, Ellie Doolitle and Aaron Jewett, tenor saxophonist Aaron Miller and trombonist Julia Mace.

The Emerson Jazz Band, directed by Joe Wainer, will also be heading to the state competition. The band played, Clifford Brown’s “Blues Walk,” Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” and Charlie Parker’s Latin bebop tune, “Little Suede Shoes.” Details on the band’s rating and soloist awards were not available by press time.