Goodrich – More than music was heard last month at Brighton High School, when Goodrich musicians thrilled over achieving top ratings.
The Goodrich High School concert band achieved superior scores at the State Band and Orchestra Festival in Brighton last month.
After performing three pieces and sight-reading another, a panel of judges awarded band members all ones, the highest possible rating in the state, says director Aaron Orkisz.
Students reacted with yelling, screaming, and jumping when they read the results in the school’s cafeteria, said Orkisz.
‘There was sheer exhilaration,? said sophomore Bill DeHerder, a trumpet player.
‘It just kind of made me jump up in the air and made me head-butt somebody next to me.?
The no. 1 rating was a surprise, says Bill, who says the repetition of practice didn’t match the performance students gave while onstage.
‘It was the first state festival I went to, so it was cool,? said freshman Erika Wallace, a flute player.
‘Only 5 percent of all bands qualified to go,? said Orkisz, commending students? hard work, parents? dedication, and band members? earlier music teachers for the great performance.
‘Our music instructors supplied me with extremely well-developed musicians to work with,? he said.