Veteran director Steve Orlofsky leads the George Stevens Academy jazz band through one of its three selections at Saturday’s Maine Instrumental High School Jazz Festival in South Portland. The GSA band placed first — the equivalent of a state championship — in its division for the seventh consecutive year. At Orlofsky’s left is vibraphonist Grace Bell, who received one of the festival’s outstanding musician awards.—PHOTO COURTESY OF JARLATH McENTEE

SOUTH PORTLAND — For the seventh year in a row, George Stevens Academy’s jazz band won the state championship in its division last Saturday at the Maine Instrumental High School Jazz Festival held at South Portland High School. GSA and Mount Desert Island High School students scooped up some of the top individual musicianship awards bestowed for their divisions at the annual competition.

In Division III, the smallest of the three Maine high school divisions based on enrollment, GSA’s jazz band — performing “Almost Like Being in Love,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Caravan” — was awarded a final score of 94.8 points, edging out bands from Houlton High School and Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln.

GSA vibraphonist Grace Bell and drummer Sam Eley and MDI High School students Rebecca Edgecomb (trumpet), Adam Perruzzi (trombone) and Summer Keith (drums) received top musician awards for playing in their respective divisions.

Steve Orlofsky started GSA’s jazz band program in 1988. Since then, the jazz band has figured among the top three winners in its division for 21 years at the state jazz festival.

Orlofsky praised his students’ hard work as well as the fine music programs at local elementary schools. GSA freshmen, he noted, often already possess a passion and skill for playing jazz.

“If it weren’t for the elementary school teachers and the interest they create with their students to keep playing, there wouldn’t be any high school musicians,” he pointed out Tuesday.

His own passion for jazz and teaching has not waned over the years, either. “I definitely have a fever and energy for it. I love March. Everyone is always knocking March.”