Lake Orion Bands Exhibit 'Sterling Reputation' at Concert

Band students from four Lake Orion schools came together Wednesday to learn from each other and perform a concert under guest conductor John Madden, associate director of bands at Michigan State University.

The Symphonic Celebrations Clinic and Concert is designed to help band students understand different styles of conducting and to learn from bands in other grades and schools. On Wednesday, all three cadet bands from Lake Orion middle schools — , and — joined band members from 's Symphonic Wind Ensemble in an all-day clinic that was followed by a concert.

Lake Orion resident Eric Olsen was in attendance to watch his daughter, Josie, an eighth-grader from Scripps, perform. Olsen said he is amazed how the students get better and better every time they play, and he thinks the clinic and concert is a great idea.

"I think it's really neat; great experience for them to see other students from other schools perform, and it gives them exposure to different styles of conductors," Olsen said.

Each school’s band was allotted time to play a few tunes individually. Then, two groups were formed, combining members from each grade level and school to play together. The tempo changed throughout the concert as new groups performed on stage, drawing loud rounds of applause from the audience. A couple of the songs performed throughout the evening included March of the Trolls and the Star Wars' Imperial March.  

"It's really a pleasure to be here," Madden said. "Lake Orion has a sterling reputation for instrumental music education in our state ... you should be very proud of that reputation. It is a sterling, untarnished reputation, and it has been for a very, very long time."

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