The high school marching band was back at Ford Field, Nov. 7, for state finals.
They placed fourth of ten bands in flight I, a category containing the largest schools in the Michigan.
Dragons scored 83.55 points overall, placing them below Rockford (84.9), West Bloomfield (87.8) and Plymouth-Canton (91.35).
‘They were pretty down,? Band Director Mike Steele said of his students. In the two previous years, Lake Orion earned second place finishes.
‘I thought they deserved a little bit better,? he said.
Steele later said he was very pleased with the band’s performance and there’s no shame in dropping two places.
‘One thing that helps all bands is when another band gets better,? he said. ‘You have to work harder.?
The director noted how different music competitions are from sports.
‘It’s not like lining up 11 guys on either side of a football,? he said. ‘If you like our show, you like it. If you didn’t, you didn’t. It’s not like [other bands] played more right notes than we did.?
Under the bright lights of Ford Field, Dragons performed ‘Over the River and Through the Woods?? but it wasn’t the typical version, according to Steele.
‘It makes a pretty powerful statement,? he said of the compilation.
In the beginning of the performance, students literally come through a set of decorated trees where they ‘lose their way.?
Midway through, a colorguard takes a bite from an apple.
‘At that point, the music goes crazy,? said Steele. ‘The tone of the show turns on a dime.?
Some of the music is from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and some is original, according to the director.
Steele said in the last several years, he’s tried to get the theme of the show to pick music and not music to pick the theme of the show.
Of his band’s performance, the director said, ‘This is something to be especially proud of.?