By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
It appears Oxford High School is well on its way to once again having a competitive marching band.
On Saturday, the 138-member band marched its way to a third place finish at the first-ever Brandon Invitational.
‘For our first time doing something like this, I was very, very proud,? said Band Director Jim Gibbons. ‘We were competing against schools with very strong marching programs.?
Competing against nine other bands, Oxford scored a very impressive 80.3 out of a possible 100 points.
The Wildcats finished behind first place Davison, which scored 83.5 points, and Waterford-Mott, whose 80.8 score was enough to just barely edge Oxford out for second place.
‘Realistically, I was not expecting to finish as high as we did just because it’s the first experience any of our kids have had doing anything like this,? Gibbons said.
Sure, the band regularly participates in marching festivals where it receives a score based on a standard rating, but it normally doesn’t compete against other schools for a ranking. ‘Oxford hasn’t been a competitive marching band in years and years and years,? Gibbons said.
Entering the Brandon Invitational was a way for the band to ease back into the competitive arena.
‘We just kind of wanted to put our big toe in the water and see how it went,? Gibbons said. ‘Next year, we may look to do two (competitions) or something like that.?
Gibbons was particularly pleased his band scored more points than any other school in the musical performance category. Oxford received 25.9 out of a possible 30 points.
The band also did well in the musical effect category scoring 21.8 out of 25 points.
Visual effect and marching performance, which make up the remaining 45 points, are where Oxford faltered a bit.
‘Our weakness is in the marching end of things,? Gibbons said.
The OHS Marching Band will get a chance to show off its skills in front of a huge audience Friday evening as it participates in Michigan State University’s Homecoming Parade in East Lansing.
‘We did it last year and they invited us back,? Gibbons said. ‘It’s a real honor.?