? Lake Orion Percussion (LOP) took first place in Percussion Scholastic A at state finals held at Saginaw Valley State College on Sunday, March 29, with their show titled ‘The Shield?.
Winter drum line is similar to marching band on a football field, except it is done in gymnasiums and performed by percussionists and movement line marchers.? The percussion group consists of a front ensemble, drum line, cymbal line, movement line and auxiliary percussion.
The show entails the preparation and battle between the Spartans and the Persians percussion-style with oil drums and traditional percussion instruments, shields in hand.? The final scene, the Spartan hero precariously walks across oil drums to spear the evil-looking Persian. The group consists of all four grades of high schoolers some who have never marched; but, now look forward to marching band season.
Also, taking first place in Percussion Scholastic Concert World was Lake Orion Concert Percussion.? This group’s show title is ‘Music Travels?.? They performed several arrangements and even had a singer sing songs in French and one in traditional African dialects, while playing percussion instruments from those countries as well.? The group enjoyed a master workshop in African percussion instruments to prepare for their show.?
Both groups are under the direction of Paul Loos who arranged and developed the show along with his staff of instructors.
Coming up next the team will travel to Dayton, OH,’April 9-11,’for the 2015 Winter Guard International Percussion World Championships.