Improving from a ninth place finish to sixth place is a big step for any competitive team, and the Lake Orion High School Marching Band is no different.
The Dragon Marching Band finished sixth in the Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA) competition, held Oct. 30. LOHS finished in ninth place last year, and director Michael Steele said until this year, no Lake Orion band had ever finished higher.
‘It’s something to improve one position, it’s another to improve three,? he said.
Lake Orion competed against the top 11 Flight I marching bands in the state.
‘This year was a really successful year,? said Steele, who is in his fifth year of directing the marching band at LOHS. ‘They improved a lot. Overall, their performance level is just so much sharper than it’s ever been. One of the factors contributing to that is their work ethic.?
Steele said this year the band practiced harder than ever.
‘They expected more,? he said. ‘Last year, what they would have been happy with, they went well past this year.?
Steele also credits the hiring this year of two additional full-time staff members for the band, Ben Clark and Eddie Hennessey.
‘What they’ve done to help me teach the program is astounding,? Steele said. ‘Mr. Clark wrote the drill that (the band) opened with, and Mr. Hennessey has been working with the color guard.?
Steele called this year’s band’s performances ‘more polished? than in previous years.
‘We don’t plan on stopping here,? he said. ‘We finished no lower than third place in all our previous competitions (this year). The kids are excited and happy, as they should be.?
Three seniors from the LOHS Marching Band have received $1,000 scholarships from the MCBA for their musical accomplishments, on and off the field.
Drum major Jenn Thompson, and section leaders Kelly Moehlman and Aubry Dyl, were among eight seniors statewide to receive the scholarships.
‘Last year we also had two other seniors who received scholarships,? Steele said.