HV Band Programs continue success over Spring Break
WMU ALL-STAR BAND
As soon as we hit break last Friday I received an email from Western Michigan University, notifying me that we had several students who auditioned and were selected for the WMU All-Star Band. This event takes place during their Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music, on Thursday, April 13th at WMU. The guest composer this year is Mr. David Biedenbender, who our Lakeland students just worked with a few weeks ago in a masterclass/clinic held at LHS.
The following students have been selected for the 2023 WMU All-Star Band:
MHS:
Matthew Stewart - clarinet
Alex Wrenn- tuba
Emily Fountain (honorable mention) - percussion
LHS:
Brendon Kornacki - piccolo
Samantha Schwartz - clarinet
Shelby Hamilton - clarinet
Rainah Petersen - bassoon
TJ Worswick - trumpet
Zach Zuber - french horn
Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association - Youth Arts Soloist Competition:
I had announced that Sayaka Minami (IA-10th grade) had been selected as a soloist for piano to compete at the Festival this year and I am honored to announce she competed on Friday, March 31 at CMU and she made the semi finals as the only pianist in the state. She did not advance to the top 4 as a finalist but we are beyond proud of Sayaka! Congratulations!!!
Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association - Youth Arts Honor Band
Every year, based on student scores at State Solo and Ensemble, individual students are named to the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honor Band and Honor Orchestra. Although MSBOA has moved to create their own festival in the future separate from the MYAF, it has selected and named the recipients to the 2023 Band and Orchestra program (there will not be a formal concert, but the selection process has been completed this year). Our very own Matthew Stewart from Milford was named as a member of the Honor Band for the State of Michigan based on his Proficiency Exam score at State Solo and Ensemble! Congratulations Matt. Matt was also a member of the 2023 MSBOA All-State Band, WMU All-Star Band, EMU Honor Band, and the MSBOA District IV Honor Band. What an accomplishment!!!
Huron Valley Percussion Wins WGI REGIONAL
The Winter Guard International Regional Championships were held at Lakeland High School on Saturday, March 25th. Our very own Huron Valley Percussion were crowned the 2023 Regional Champions in their class!!! They finished first in both prelims and in finals. The finished the day with a score of 83.0, and they are now currently ranked 3rd in the country heading into their final 2 shows (Michigan Championships and World Championships).
HVWG/HVWG JV Championships:
On Saturday, April 1, the Huron Valley Winter Guards competed at Championships at Saginaw Valley State University. The groups finished as follows:
Huron Valley Winter Guard JV - 8th place
Huron Valley Winter Guard - 4th place
HVP Championships:
On Sunday, April 2, the Huron Valley Percussion competed at Championships at Eastern Michigan University. The group finished in First Place and took the Gold Medal!!!
HVS band parents and our alumni/families:
My proudest update to share from break is that our amazing HVS band parents came together to run a national regional on March 25, and then turned around and ran Michigan championships for drumline on Sunday, April 2, at a new site at EMU and knocked it out of the park!!! They were an incredible team to work with and I am honored to be a part of the program!
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Robert Green he/him/his
Director of Bands, International Academy West
Director of Bands, Lakeland High School
Director of Bands, Milford High School
Director, Huron Valley Marching Band