Owosso, Perry, Morrice, Ovid-Elsie Bands Take Top Honors At MSBOA Festival

It's a competition against yourself. Bands play prepared pieces before three judges, then face a judge and a piece of music they've never seen, and must learn to play in just minutes. Judges rate the bands with a I, II, III, etc...

Five Lansing-area high school bands received Division I ratings, considered "superior," from all the judges, including in the sight-reading room, for a final score of I, the highest festival honor. Perry High School's Symphonic Band, both Owosso High School's Concert and Symphonic Bands, Morrice High School's Concert Band, and Ovid-Elsie High School's Concert Bandreceived all I's.

Additionally, Perry Middle School's 8th Grade Band and Owosso Middle School's 7th and 8th Grade bands also got I's across the board.

The New Lothrop High School Concert Band received I's from all but one of the judges. The band's final score was a I.

All four Durand bands received final scores of II at festival, after a mixed bag of I's and II's from judges. Both Byron bands, Owosso's Freshman band, Ovid-Elsie's Middle School 7th Grade and Chesaning Middle School's 8th Grade bands also walked away with II's.

Bands from Alma, Bath, Carson City-Crystal, and DeWitt also participated and left with final scores of II.  Chesaning High School's Symphonic Band and Saginaw Arts & Science Academy's Middle School Band took all I's while Saginaw Arts & Science's High School Band left with a II.

The District V MSBOA Festival was held in Perry on Friday and Saturday.