As a result of being awarded the Sweepstakes winner of the 1994 Festival, The Vocal Ensemble was selected to perform at the night concert for all participants of the festival.  This performance was to get comments from the Festival Adjudicator  as the choir was ineligible to participate in ratings.

After winning the 1994 Vocal Jazz portion of the NAU festival. The choir decided to try out its luck in a major California Festival. . The choir was honored to achieve a placement in competition.on the very first out of state competitive festival.  

Festival Placement: 3rd Place

In the previous year, the choir was awarded a Fair Rating. The choir simply attended the festival to learn and enjoy. Each day the choirs were the first to perform.  With such improvement, the choirs earned Excellent ratings., what they did not know at the time, was that they had achieved the high score and won the festival, even after going first. No Superior Ratings were given that day and Thunderbird, much to the surprise of everyone finished on top. 

 Vocal Jazz: Sweepstakes Winner - Excellent Rating

Madrigal: Excellent Rating

This was Mr. Duarte's first concert as the teacher of record.  As a graduate of Thunderbird High School class of 1985, he was honored to have a part to both run the choir program and assist in running the band program. Mr. Duarte took over as the third director in as many years.