This past Tuesday we had the total enjoyment of listening to the Lake Orion High School Band at a concert in the Wildwood Pavilion.

It was a magical evening! To realize that over one hundred students took time out from their summer vacation to practice three times for the concert and then spend the evening entertaining community residents was a tribute to their commitment to music and the arts.

Everyone in Lake Orion should be proud of these students and their musical accomplishments.

Music appreciation and lessons should always be a part of any school’s curriculum. I have said this before and will say it again — if there ever are to be cutbacks in the curriculum and teachers, it should never impact the music program. Better to cut back in the sports program.

Most student musicians go on to pursue their career when in college, unlike student athletes who rarely make it to a college team.

We have a grandson who played in the orchestra at Grosse Pointe South High School and now is entering his fourth year at the University of Michigan and continues to play in the orchestra.

So, let’s continue to support and encourage students to pursue musical careers and even if they choose not to pursue a professional career down the road, at least the high school experience will provide them with a satisfying accomplishment.

Bill Kalmar

Lake Orion resident

and former accordion player