Goodrich – The last few weeks have signaled notable achievements for Goodrich school musicians.
After receiving top ratings at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association festival last month, held at Holly High School, the students qualified to compete statewide at a competition to be held April 29.
It will be the first time in 13 years.
Although Goodrich High School bands have previously qualified to take part in the statewide competition, lack of preparation time prevented them from attending, said band director Aaron Orkisz.
Along with earning qualifying ratings, the timing of school district’s spring break’which fell earlier this year because of an early Easter holiday’made it possible for Goodrich to make a showing at this year’s festival.
Orkisz attributes the honor to a hard work ethic.
‘I’m extremely proud,? he said. ‘It’s to the students? credit because of the hard work they put in.?
High school band members, which hosted a performance of the Limonest student wind band of France, were recently invited to perform with the French players on the Goodrich stage.
Orkisz was a guest conductor for the Goodrich performance, leading the musicians in a ballad, ‘Morricone’s Melody.?
Band members were also invited to perform with student bands from Japan, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, and France at an International Music Festival on the stage of Whiting Auditorium in Flint.
Next month, the students will join with the Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra in a concert at Goodrich High School May 3.
While the flurry of concerts and competitions is exciting, it also means band students will be crunching to learn 15 to 20 pieces of music in a matter of days, said Orkisz before readying for the band’s May 19 spring concert and the May 26 fine arts festival, featuring performing and visual arts.