For the first time, the marching band will be competing in state finals at Ford Field, on Nov 2. This year, the band joined the Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA), which runs competitions throughout the fall and hosts the State Finals.
“[Joining MCBA] really is forcing us to focus on becoming a better ensemble, both marching and playing, and also incorporating some kind of new visual, what they call general effect, elements to our show,” band director David Larzelere said.
They will be competing amongst many other schools at the competition as part of Flight II, which is the first competition of the day. The band is scheduled to perform fourth in their flight at 8:12 a.m., so band members will have to arrive at the school at 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
Performing at competitions is an entirely different experience for the band than playing at football games, according to Larzelere.
“Most people think of marching bands as a group that just plays kind of loud all the time because they have to fill up a stadium to entertain a football crowd,” Larzelere said. “We have moments where it’s supposed to be a more intimate feeling, and that translates really well to a marching band competition where people are sitting and listening quietly like they would at a concert.”
Likewise, drum major Madeleine Plowright (11), prefers competitions to football games.
“I feel like the football environment can be really rowdy and when we’re at a competition, everybody’s sitting and watching and really respectfully,” Plowright said.
This opportunity brings both nerves and excitement to band students. For bass drummer Adelina Schenker, performing for the first in a dome makes it more exciting.
“I’m pretty excited because it’s a really cool space,” Schenker said. “And I obviously am nervous as well because it’s this big performance at state finals.”
The marching band has been perfecting their performance since last May. They spent over 10 hours every day practicing their pieces for weeks during the summer and have three hour rehearsals once a week during the school year on Wednesdays. Still, Larzelere has nerves going into the weekend.
“Like, you know, are the buses going to show up on time? Is there going to be traffic?,” Larzelere said. “Are we going to arrive in time? Is everyone going to have their uniform on correctly? Or is there somebody going to forget something, you know?”
Ultimately, Larzelere believes that the most important thing is the hard work his kids have put in this year, no matter the outcome at Ford Field.
“Many students have just worked really hard,” Larzelere said. “They’re a really awesome group to work with. I honestly look forward to coming to school every day because they work so hard and they make it fun and just really proud of their effort this year, wherever we end up.”
