Belding Marching Band Second at Finals

November 10, 2008

The Belding High School competitive marching band ended its season at Ford Field on Saturday with a “spectacular show” according to Band Director Jonathan Schnicke.

“It turned out to be a great day,” he said of the Michigan Competing Band Association championships. “The kids performed exceptionally well. As a staff and a band we are very happy with what the kids did.”

Belding’s band entered the competition ranked second to Wyoming Godwin Heights and finished in second place right behind that school with a score of 77.05 among the 10 bands competing.

“When they announced the scores they stand at attention waiting for each score to be announced,” Schnicke said of the band. “When each number went up they got more and more excited and when their number for second place went up they just erupted with joy.”

Drum Major Morgan Beckett, 18, of Belding said she was particularly focused on the performance because since she’s a senior she knew it would be her final one with the band.

“I think it went fantastic and I think the band poured their heart into their last performance,” Beckett said. “It really showed out on the field. I know the season definitely ended the best it could possibly be.”

Fifteen-year-old Kelsey Pollock of Belding is a color guard member and said the band was especially well prepared.

“I felt that our show this year was a lot better than last year’s and that we were more confident as a band together,” she said.

Ryan Jackson, 17, of Belding, a senior who plays the baritone, said it was “an amazing feeling” to compete for a state title.

“We are really there to perform and share our love of music with the crowd,” he said. “I feel that everyone who performed today left it all on the field. It was a great performance.

“I had a solo this year,” said Jackson. “There’s always been something that needs to be tweaked every time and this time it was the final time. It came out great.”

Marnie Wittenbach of Grattan Township, the mother of a clarinet player, was on hand to see the band march at all four of its competitions prior to the state finals. She said the Belding marchers were “impressive” Saturday.

“They did a fabulous job,” Wittenbach said. “I think they did their best performance of the season. They sounded good and looked good. It was great.”

As seen in the Daily News
Diana Henderson
Staff Writer