Band shines at state festival
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
The beautiful music made by the Rogers City High School (RCHS) concert band earned it high ratings at the state band festival last Friday at Big Rapids High School. Only bands which earn top ratings at their district festivals get the chance to play at the state festival.
The band, under the direction of Edward Wilbert, earned a ?one? rating for sight-reading and a ?two? for its performance of three numbers. ?I really thought we did really well in the sight-reading for the difficulty of music. You look at every group that goes through there and they have to play that music, too. I was thinking that we played that music pretty well,? Wilbert said. Wilbert, in his 29th year at RCHS, estimates his bands have qualified around seven times, he said.
?This band hasn?t been my best performing group overall?I?ve had some top-notch performing bands since I have been here, but they are a very good group. There are a lot of individual really good players in the band,? Wilbert said. The sight-reading judge noticed that in his evaluation and praised the work of the leaders in the band for the way they communicated to each other in the test. In that portion, which occurs after the performance onsta
?There are a lot of people that care in each section,? Wilbert said. ?I think our performance on the stage could have been better. I think we were kind of jittery and not quite relaxed and prepared the way we should have been and the way we have done it in the practice room in rehearsals.? The band traveled to Big Rapids on a school bus, performed in late afternoon and returned later that day. Not many people were able to attend the event, other than chaperones.
?I really appreciate the parent support just to help out on that kind of a trip,? Wilbert said. People will have the opportunity to hear the bands and the choirs in concert on Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. The sixth-grade band, junior high band, choir, concert and jazz bands will be featured.