The Natchez High School Choral Music Department garnered six superior ratings and two sweepstakes honors at the Gulf Coast Choral Festival during the Thanksgiving holidays.

Natchez High entered six categories: SSA Chorus, Sextet, TTBB Chorus, Quartet, Madrigal and Concert Chorus. Each earned a superior rating.

The TTBB Chorus and Quartet entries also won the sweepstakes honor. This means they received the highest superior rating of the schools that entered these categories. It was the first time Natchez High has won two sweepstakes.

All choirs and ensembles are under the direction of Joyce T. Arceneaux.

The choirs compete according to school classification. Natchez High entered as a 3A school. Schools in attendance at the festival included: Tupelo, Vicksburg, Murrah, Madison Central and Pearl.

The judges came from the University of Mississippi, Hinds Community Colleg, Mississippi College, University of Southern Mississippi and the Hattiesburg School System.

Residents can listen to the Madrigal singers at 7 p.m. today as they present a Madrigal Dinner at the Carriage House.

The dinner theatre will include lots of wonderful music from the costumed Madrigal singers.

Tickets for the event are $22 per person. For ticket information call the Natchez Ticket Shop at 800-647-6724.