Oscoda Area Schools

The Oscoda High School Symphony Band traveled to Unionville-Sebewaing High School on Thursday, April 23 to participate in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) State Band and Orchestra Festival. They qualified for this opportunity by earning a Division I rating and District Band Festival on March 4 at the University of Michigan Flint.

This festival was established by MSBOA in the 1930’s as a method for school bands and orchestras to be evaluated by independent and expert adjudicators on a statewide standard.  Participating bands can earn the following ratings: Division I (Superior), Division II (Excellent), Division III (Good), Division IV (Fair) or Division V (Poor) and are evaluated in the areas of Tone, Intonation, Rhythm, Technique and Interpretation. The OHS Symphony Band earned A’s in all of these captions from all three judges.

At this state-level event, bands perform two prepared pieces and receive a clinic onstage from an outstanding instrumental educator.  The clinician for the OHS Symphony Band was Dr. Steven Riley, director of bands at Northern Michigan University who was extremely complimentary of the band, and who said that working with the OHS Symphony Band was like “test driving a Cadillac.”

The band performed "Infinite Horizons” by Robert Sheldon and "Angry Beavers" by Brian Beck.  Some of the comments from the judges included: “This was a well-prepared and well-executed program. So controlled, musical and exciting,” and “Many excellent musicians in this band! Wonderful performance! Keep up the great work!”