The FGR Concert Band performed at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District Band and Orchestra Festival on Thursday, February 29 at Allen Park High School. This was their first competitive appearance under the direction of new band director, Greg Normandin, and their efforts paid off with a qualification for the State Festival this spring!
To compete in festival the band had to perform three selections on the auditorium stage: a traditional march, a piece chosen from a required list, and a piece of its own selection.
Mr. Normandin writes about the experience, “The band performed beautifully and was rewarded with first division ratings from all three of the performance judges.”
After the performance portion, the band moved to another room where they had to sight read. In this room, the band received music they had never seen before and had five minutes to look it over, talk about it, sing rhythms – everything but actually play a note. After the five minutes expired, they performed the piece. “The band did an excellent job,” notes Mr. Normandin, “and received a second division rating from the sight-reading judge.”
Once all four of the judges’ ratings were tabulated, our band received an overall First Division Rating. Each student will receive a medal and a plaque will hang in the rehearsal room as a reminder of their accomplishment.
Individual band members also received recognition earlier this winter at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival. Conley Poole ’27, Vincent Prezecki ’26, Ireland Perttunen ’26 and Kenzie Zabel ’25 all received first division ratings, thereby earning spots at the State competition.
Vocalists have earned accolades this year under the tutelage of first-year choir director, Mrs. Ginger Hermann. Madrigals Honors Choir member Grayson Pavicich ’26 was selected as a member of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) State Honors Choir earlier this school year. After submitting a detailed audition video, Grayson was accepted to participate in Regional Honors Choir in October. Grayson and his family then traveled to Anchor Bay High School on December 2nd for the Region C Honors Choir Workshop and Concert, where he also auditioned for State Honors Choir, being tested both on his performance of advanced Honors Choir repertoire and on his ability to sight-read brand-new music individually. As a member of the prestigious MSVMA State Honors Choir, Grayson, along with the other accomplished tenors and basses from across the state, performed for an audience of several thousand at the DeVos Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Michigan Music Conference on Saturday, January 27 of this year.
Lilya Heidelbaugh ’24 performed at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festival in February and received a perfect score! With this accomplishment, Lilya has qualified for the State level Solo and Ensemble Festival later this spring.
These musicians and vocalists have worked to pursue excellence while further developing their creative talents, bringing goodness and beauty to those around them.