Boardman bands score high marks

For the second year, Boardman High School hosted the Ohio Music Education Association District 5 Large Group Adjudicated Event Mar. 12 and 13.

Two of Boardman’s four concert bands participated in the district band contest, along with 11 different District 5 bands from Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtubula counties and seven bands from other OME districts.

The event had local high school bands performing prepared selections for three judges who gave recorded and written comments, then assigned scores from I to V with I being the best.

Following a band’s performance on the floor, they went to a different room where they sight-read a piece no one had seen before. A fourth judge assigned a rating for the performance. The four judges’ scores were averaged for an overall rating.

At the contest, the Boardman Wind Ensemble earned an overall Superior (I) rating from the judges. They performed “The Crosley March” by Henry Fillmore, “Rush” by Samuel Hazo and “Finale from Symphony No. 5” by Dimitri Shostakovich.

The school’s Symphonic Band also earned an overall Superior (I) rating by performing “Pevensey Castle” by Robert Sheldon, “Fantasy on English Folk Songs” by Gene Milford and “Rampage!” by Todd Stalter.

There were five levels of participation for bands in this event. Class D level did not require a song list. In classes C, B, A, and AA, bands were required to choose at least one selection from a list established by the OMEA.

Class C music is the easiest and Class AA is the most difficult. The Boardman Wind Ensemble has a running streak of Superior ratings in Class AA and A. The Symphonic Band has earned Superior ratings in Class C.

Boardman was the only school in District 5 to enter in Class AA this year.

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be joined by Concert Band and Freshman Band in the annual spring concert Apr. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Boardman Performing Arts Center.