By Natalie Manka, Badger Times

For the first time since 2002, the Band received a superior rating of straight 1’s in the 2013 UIL AA Concert Contest on Wednesday, March 6.

Band Director George DeRocher was beaming after their perfomance as he shared the judges critiques.

They played three pieces which they have prepared for a few months. These pieces were critiqued and given a rating by a panel of judges.

“First, we performed two pieces from the UIL prescribed music list,” DeRocher added. “Then, we played a march of our choice, which we have also prepared. After that, we sight read.”

The Band earned one 1 and two 2’s in sight reading. Most are uninformed about Band Earns 1 Rating at Concert Contest the concert and sight reading contests. People have even said that Band “takes a break” after marching season, but that’s hardly the case. Not only do they prepare the pieces of music they know they will play, they prepare to play music they’ve never seen or heard before. This music is written especially for the occasion.

“We got a total of seven minutes with the music,” DeRocher said. “During the first four, I could only count at tempo and talk about the music. During the last three, I could sing and count rhythms.”

The whole time that was going on, the band was free to mock their parts with their hands, but they were not allowed to blow air through their horns or even touch the instruments to their mouths.

“Then came the end of the study period,” DeRocher said. “The band then played the piece for three judges.”

If any band member had talked out of turn in the sight reading room, the band would have been disqualified.