How do you get to MYAF in Kalamazoo? Practice, practice, practice. A percussion quintet from Lake Orion High School performed in the MYAF (Michigan Youth Arts Festival) Instrumental Collage Concert on Saturday, May 12.
They were one of only eight ensembles chosen for this honor out of the more than 3,400 groups entering the original competition.
The quintet, named ‘Behind Bars,? consists of Terry Sweeney on xylophone, Collin McGran, Ben Moore, Billy Puuri, and Vincent Ryan on marimbas. (The ‘bars? are made of rosewood and they stand ‘behind? them.)
In February, 3,400 ensembles participated in the MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival where ‘Behind Bars? received a ?1? rating.
In March, over 1,000 groups who had received ?1’s? competed at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association state festival. Of those, over 100 groups were nominated by the judges as potential finalists.
The quintet then submitted a recording of their song, ‘Xylophonia,? (a fun, ragtime piece written by Joe Green and arranged by Bob Becker) to the final adjudication panel in Kalamazoo.
‘Behind Bars? received word at the end of April that they were one of the final eight groups selected to perform at MYAF. It was as exciting as American Idol, but without the crying girl.
They rehearsed every Wednesday morning from November through May (giving up that precious ‘sleep-in? opportunity that most high-schoolers ache for). They never stopped tweaking the song, sweetening up the rhythm and dynamics right up through the week of the competition.
LOHS Band Director Michael Steele gave them valuable guidance every step of the way, teaching them how to balance their sound and instrumentation.
(Rehearsing this quintet required more than just dedication to practicing the song; after all, you can’t just sling a marimba under your arm. The quintet thanks all the parents who schlepped these keyboard mallet instruments week after week, often at the expense of their car’s interior upholstery.)
Performing at MYAF in Dalton Center at Western Michigan University was a spectacular finale that showcased the dedication and talent of these young musicians. They were cool, composed and professional.
What makes their accomplishment even more amazing is that these guys are all just sophomores and freshmen, a feat nearly unheard of from such young players.