The Lake Orion High School bands? percussion ensemble, brass quintet and chamber percussion ensemble are three of seven ensembles chosen in the state to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
The festival takes place May 12-14 at Western Michigan University.
LOHS band director Michael Steele said having two ensembles chosen was unusual, and an honor for the school.
‘In the first run, if they do well enough, they get offered to go to state,? Steele said. ‘From the state competition, over 80 ensembles are nominated, and then seven are chosen. To have three is pretty significant.?
Performing in the percussion ensemble are: Heather Widgren (junior, xylophone), Johnathan Roberts (senior, Marimba), Greg Chernoby (junior, Marimba), Michael Neuville (junior, Marimba), and Zachary McKenzie (junior, Marimba).
Performing in the brass quintet are: Kyle Upton (junior, trumpet), Esteban Carrasco (junior, trumpet), Caroline Harris (senior, French horn), Matthew Golling (sophomore, trombone), and Ben Anderson (senior, tuba).
Performing in the chamber percussion ensemble are: Roberts, Ryan Comeau, Matt Turchyn, Adam Redmond, McKenzie, Neuville, Chernoby, Widgren and Cole Burke.
The percussion and brass will perform on May 13, and the chamber percussion and brass quintet, again, will perform on Saturday morning.
Also nominated, but not selected, were a percussion ensemble with 10 members, a clarinet duet, a woodwind duet and a French Horn duet.
In addition to the percussion ensemble and brass quintet, LOHS also has five students nominated to perform as the featured soloist at the festival.
Students selected to audition as featured soloist are: Emily Anderson (junior, flute), Harris, Aubrey Dyl (senior, clarinet), Christina Anger (sophomore, clarinet), and Upton.
‘I believe that is one more than any other school in the state,? said Steele. ‘It’s an honor just to have one.?
Last year, LOHS senior Elizabeth Galvan (Class of 2004) played a movement of a marimba concerto as the soloist at the festival.
LOHS also has four students playing in the honors orchestra this year, out of the 32 students total who play in LOHS? orchestra.
Performing from Lake Orion in the All State Orchestra at the festival are: Dyl, Upton, Harris, and Katherine Ouzounian (sophomore, viola).
‘It’s a very prestigious event,? Steele said of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. ‘We have had students elected for honors band or orchestra every year that I’ve been here.?
Steele has been director at LOHS for five years. No students were selected for the honors band this season.
LOHS? symphonic band had earned straight ?1? ratings for the past eight festivals this year, and along with the campus and concert bands, qualified for the state festival by receiving a ?1? rating at the district level.
‘I’ve had three judges say this is the finest high school band they’ve ever heard,? said Steele. ‘Last year we were selected to perform at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, for the Michigan Music Educators In-Service Conference.?
Steele said he’s been blessed over the years with ‘tremendously talented students.?
‘This year it was a combination of ability and love of what they do (that’s made them successful),? he added. ‘It allows me to push them to play more challenging music than any other high school band they’ll see.?
Steele said this year, the bands have been performing more collegiate music.
‘And they are performing it at a collegiate level,? he said. ‘It’s not like we’re trying to do collegiate music and then doing it badly.?