As the in-person school year returns, so do school extracurriculars and all of the events that come with them.

   On Wednesday, Oct. 6, BHHS served as the host of the MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) Festival, inviting marching bands from the local area to perform and receive a performance rating. 

   In 2020, the festival was cancelled as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, but it has returned in 2021, with health and safety precautions in place. The bands performed an array of shows, with arrangements of pop, classic rock, and everything in between, including a performance  from the Bloomfield Hills Black Hawk Marching Band.

   The MSBOA Festival is attended by a variety of local high school marching bands. Each band performs its own unique show and displays its style. While the event itself is not competitive, MSBOA judges provide a rating to each band after their show reflective of their performance. On a scoring scale of 1 through 5, the Bloomfield Hills Black Hawk Marching Band earned 1s in all judged categories for an overall rating of 1, the highest possible score.  

   Donald Kim, a senior who attended the festival as a spectator, noted the highlights of the band’s performance.

   “…The conducting from the drum majors, the enthusiasm from the colorguard, and their diligent work to keep going, even when they messed up.” Kim said. “They picked themselves up. The band was enthusiastically ‘in it’.”

   Kim explained his appreciation for BHHS hosting the festival, remarking that it “showcases the talent and art that we have at our school.”

   The Bloomfield Hills Black Hawk Marching Band made frequent appearances at school events this season, performing a pregame and halftime show at home varsity football games, including the homecoming game. Additionally, the band marched the halls on Friday game-days and appeared at the Dessert Concert, an evening featuring a variety of musical groups across the school.

   This year, the BHHS marching band presented a show titled “Taking Up Space,” featuring a collection of songs themed around space and science fiction. The show included: “Also Sprach Zarathustra” from 2001: A Space Odyssey; “Mars” from The Planets; “Hooked on a Feeling,” featured in Guardians of the Galaxy; and themes from Star Wars and The Mandalorian.

   Toby Buckfire, a senior and baritone assistant section leader in the marching band, noted the unique opportunity that MSBOA provides. 

   “I think it’s really cool to be able to interact with other schools at festivals and see them and their band programs. Without [the festival] we wouldn’t get the opportunity to,” said Buckfire. “Festival gives a lot of purpose for all the practice we’re doing to actually make the show good since we’re being judged and rated on it.”