A left turn upon entering North Haven High School takes one to a series of ubiquitous glass cases displaying student awards. Football, baseball, softball, basketball, and even fencing are among sports commemorated here by wooden plaques and plastic, glossy trophies.

One case, however, exhibits two dozen prizes garnered by an organization unrelated to athletics – the music program.

From April 29 to May 2, NHHS choral, a capella, band, orchestra, and jazz groups traveled to Toronto for the Festival of Music, where they collected “excellent” and “superior” ratings, and multiple trophies, from event judges.

“Our motivations are the ratings,” said NHHS music director Kenneth Tedeschi. “We try to achieve as many superior ratings as possible.”

Tedeschi and choral director Ashleigh Holt have been leading music program trips to the Festival of Music since 2001, following the event to Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Boston, Myrtle Beach, and Disney World. Superior status recognizes festival grades higher than 90 percent, while excellent represents grades between 80 and 90. Tedeschi said Toronto’s judges were local college professors, conductors, and performers.

“I’m very proud of our kids,” Holt said. “They performed amazingly. The kids were fantastic. They couldn’t have done any better.”

Departing on from the high school on Thursday at 6 a.m., four buses carried 162 students and 27 chaperones to Toronto, a 12-hour trek. Upon arriving at their Canadian destination, the students did not relax but instead rehearsed for Friday’s adjudications.

After a 5 a.m. wakeup, North Haven’s musicians practiced or performed all day, as groups went before judges from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Singers took stage at York University while band members played on University of Toronto’s main recital hall.

Concert choir, select choir, and the a capella ensemble “Men of Note” received excellent ratings, while orchestra, concert band and both jazz bands were given superior status. RT Iadarola took home top soloist for his jazz performance.

“The trip was just an incredible satisfaction,” Tedeschi said. “I’m already looking forward to the next one.”

NHHS orchestra players performed “Capriccio Italian” and “Russian Sailors Dance”; the band performed “Procession of the Nobles” and “Chorale and Shaker Dance”; jazz band one performed “Four” by Miles Davis and “North Shore Morning”; and jazz band two performed “Fever” and “Granada Smoothie.”

“River in Judia” and “The Pasturel” were sung by the concert choir; the select choir sang “If Ever I Would Love You” and “O Magnum Mysterium”; and Men of Note sang “A Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Georgia on my Mind.”

Tedeschi said his and Holt’s students were well-versed on their selections. “We’ve been playing most of these since October,” he said. “Not that we’ve devoted all of our time to these pieces, but we’ve been playing them a long time.”

North Haven brought a majority of the festival’s musicians, as Tedeschi estimated that 600 total students took part. NHHS string player Dushala Surujnarain said she enjoyed Toronto’s competition.

“We got performance experience,” she said. “You got a chance for people to help you improve.”

Students and chaperones alike finally unwound Friday night with celebratory mini-golf. Saturday was a chance to enjoy Toronto, including touring the Hockey Hall of Fame and CN Tower. North Haven’s travelers both ate and performed at Hard Rock Café, putting together a NHHS rock show. Before an evening dance and karaoke party, the bands attended Medieval Times for dinner and awards.

“I’ve found it’s best to keep busy on these trips,” Tedeschi said with a laugh.

Trip organizers even managed to squeeze in a visit to Niagara Falls, stopping there Sunday while returning to North Haven.

Toronto also provided an opportunity for NHHS students with similar musical interests to bond. While there is certainly no competitive division between orchestra, band, and singing programs at NHHS, Tedeschi said there is only a small amount of overlap. Certain wind instrument players also sit in orchestra, Tedeschi explained, while only a handful of instrumentalists also sing.

“We’re all friends here, but Toronto was really a nice opportunity to really get to know everyone,” said NHHS string player Lauren Sturtz. “The 12-hour bus drive also let us get closer to other people.”

In fact, camaraderie was a common theme in Toronto. “The kids only had to go four to a room,” Tedeschi said, “but some went five to six to a room.”

Tedeschi said band trips, which are paid for by participating students, help draw NHHS students to music. “I think that when kids start attending the high school, they already know about the trips,” he said. “They’re one reason that kids may want to continue with music, to participate in them.”

As demonstrated by its festival ratings, NHHS sports a healthy music program. “We always receive major support from the school and community,” Tedeschi said. “The whole music department here is a celebrated entity.”

And a decorated one; Tedeschi and Holt may want to request an additional trophy case. Displaying only awards amassed at the last three Festival of Music competitions, their case is filled to capacity.