Seventy-three Waldon Middle School seventh-and eighth-grade Cadet Band members traveled to Clarkston High School on May 6, to participate in the 2006 Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s State Band Festival.
By the end of the day, this talented young band had received top honors with a First Division rating. This is the highest possible score for a concert band, as they received a I rating from all four judges. Out of a possible 20 marks, the Cadet Band received 18 A’s or A+’s from the judges.
Bands are assigned classifications/degrees of required music difficulty from AA to D, according to each school’s population. Waldon’s population, just over 600 students, placed them in Class B. Lake Orion’s other two middle schools are just under 600 students, which places them at the C Level.
The Waldon Cadet Band performed more difficult music than is required at both the District and State Level festivals. At festivals, bands first play three prepared musical selections in front of three judges, who critique this performance.
The band must then perform two other pieces of music that they have never seen before.
The director has only seven minutes to discuss this music with the band before it’s played in front of a fourth judge.
At State Level sight reading, Class A and B bands must perform this task at the AA Level, the most difficult.
There are two more opportunities to hear this ensemble before the end of the school year: May 23 they will be included in a concert with all of the Waldon bands at the Lake Orion Performing Arts Center at Lake Orion High School at 7:30 p.m.
This concert will include a new musical selection, performed for the first time in public.
On June 6, they will be hosting the Symphonic Band B from Clarkston Junior High, at Waldon, at 7:30 p.m.