A mere five bands play at the Michigan Music Conference each year, and this year, the high school’s symphonic band brought the audience to its feet, said LOHS band directors.
‘Our performance culminated months of hard, satisfying work by a group of very talented musicians,? said Band Director Michael Steele, adding, ‘This year, we were lucky enough to get chosen [to perform]. It’s a really big honor.?
Performing at the January conference, says Steele, isn’t so much a competition as it is recognition of a band’s talent. Bands must apply ? and be selected ? to play in front of the majority of Michigan band directors.
This was the second time LOHS’s symphonic band attended the conference, the first being in 2004. Lake Orion middle school bands have also performed in the past.
Steele noted, ‘We are proud of all the musicians who have performed over the years in Lake Orion and are pleased to know how much their music education has benefitted them in their many diverse careers.?
In preparing an application, bands are ‘supposed to put together a program of medium difficulty, difficult, and not-so-difficult music,? says the LOHS director.
‘And what we did was choose difficult music and more difficult music,? he said.
According to Lauren Peterson, Lake Orion used the occasion to premiere two inspiring and challenging compositions by some emerging composers in the state of Michigan. The band performed Ryan Nowlin’s ‘As we Forgive,? a three-movement work, ‘filled with some very creative and exciting music based on the idea of man’s process of forgiving himself.? They also took on Kenneth Fuchs? ‘United Artists,? a very technically demanding work, ‘filled with exceptionally challenging and often soloistic material for all players.?
In all, Lake Orion performed six pieces of music, playing for just over 45 minutes, with Steele conducting four pieces and Peterson, two.
Steele says, in looking for music to perform, he ‘really fell? for Nowlin’s pieces, which is still unpublished.
‘He was surprised to hear someone having interest in his work and I’m surprised that people haven’t asked to get his work published yet,? Steele said. ‘Our kids loved playing it. I think they did a really nice job presenting it.?
Lake Orion High School musicians also found success at the district solo competition, Feb. 5 and 6. Of 101 events, 70 Dragon performers earned a top rating out of five, with 27 performers in the second-highest rating.
To see the symphonic band live and in action, stop by the high school’s performing arts center Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. for their next show.