Rosemount High School Band Marches to More Honors

Attention to detail is what separates the marching band from the others, said director Leon Sieve.

Whatever the Irish musicians are doing, it is certainly working.

Minnesota State Fair and McDonald's representations presented band members Monday with the Class A Minnesota State Fair Grand Champion award. It was the .

McDonald's officials also presented band members with a $1,500 check and announced a photo of the Rosemount band will be printed and put on tray liners at their Twin Cities locations.

Band members work hard, are dedicated, and have strong support from school administration and their parents, but put in an average amount of practice time, said Sieve. However, he believes he knows what sets them apart from other high school marching bands.

"I think it's the attention to detail," said Sieve. "I think we are really thought out and plan our rehearsals and plan our schedule throughout the season."

Band students said the awards are recognition of the work they put in.

"It's really special to have because of the hard work that everyone puts in," said Jason Lamoreaux, one of four drum majors for this year's marching band. "Just for the students to be able to see the city presenting them with an award like this means a lot because it means that their hard work has paid off. A lot of times they do a lot of hard work and they don't see a lot of reward and this is one of those things where they really get to see the reward."

Being recognized as one of the best bands in Minnesota does add some pressure on the Rosemount band members.

"Every year the bar has to go up," said Sam Breyer, a drum major for the Irish. "If it doesn't, we fall down. And if you don't push yourself, you never succeed."

The marching and the music are equally important in the band's success, said Megan Skrbec, also a Rosemount drum major.

"They're both so important," said Skrbec. "You have to be a good instrumentalist and you have to be a good marcher to be a good band."

Rosemount High School band awards:

• Six-time Bands Of America Super-Regional finalist
• 2010 Bands Of America St. Louis Super-Regional AAA Class Champion, and AAA Outstanding General Effect & Outstanding Visual Awards
• 5-time Minnesota State Champion Marching Band
• Jazz Ensemble 1 selected to participate in day-long clinic with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
• Several students selected for area College/University High School Honor Bands
• Seven students chosen for the for 2011 Minnesota Music Educator’s All-State Band and Orchestra
• March 2010 – Performance tour to Honolulu, Hawaii
• March 2007 – Performance tour to Beijing and Shanghai, China