Old Hammondtown School bands are on a (drum) roll this year. In April, the Concert Band took home a gold at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association.

And on Thursday, May 9, the Jazz Band was pleasantly surprised when they took home their own gold at the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education competition.

“It’s almost like the band’s MCAS,” said tenor sax player Matthew Carvalho.

Playing the classic “Come Fly with Me,” the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” and the group’s favorite “Rumble Latina,” the band received a gold medal as well as several awards for individual players.

“It was a great honor for the band to win the gold and continue the legacy of our school’s band,” said Rosemary Loer, a sixth grade saxophonist. “I felt really pleased to know that all of our hard work during the year had paid off.”

Since September, the group of 18 students has honed their skills of improvisation.

“Once you get used to it, it’s fun. You get to be free with whatever you play,” said Rosemary.

After playing their songs, the students had a clinic with judges.

“We got some good feedback from that. It kind of helped us,” said trumpeter Chris Merlo, who was award the MVP at the competition.

OHS Music Director Paul Halpainy, commonly referred to as Mr. H by the students, said the kids in the band are the type willing to practice out of class and dig deeper into the music.

“One of judges said: I’d love to hear these guys in a few years when they get older,” reported Halpainy. “Hopefully they’ll stick with it.”

The OHS bands will also hold a Band Blast on June 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., to raise funds for competitions and instruments.