Both AHS bands — Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble — received 1 ratings across the board, which is the highest rating you can get.

The junior high band that attended festival was TBJH Symphonic Band, which received a mix of 1 and 2 ratings.

Alpena Band Director Brad Beyer, who directs the junior high and high school bands, explained the rating system.

“It’s a 5-point scale. 1 is superior, 2 is excellent, 3 is average, 4 is fair, and 5 is poor,” Beyer said. “Bands are given grades in five categories (tone, intonation, rhythm, technique, and interpretation) and those scores combine to make your overall numeric rating.”

Courtesy Photo by Robert Sullivan Alpena High School Wind Ensemble is pictured at the pre-festival concert.

The bands are judged on both a concert performance and sight-reading.

“Three judges listen to your concert performance and then one listens to your sight-reading,” Beyer said.

The four numeric ratings are then combined to get the band’s final overall rating for the day.

“I was really pleased with all the bands’ performances,” Beyer said. “They all gave, probably, the best showing of all the music they’ve been working on up to this point.”

He added that the overall experience is just as important as the ratings.

Courtesy Photo by Robert Sullivan Thunder Bay Junior High Symphonic Band is pictured at the pre-festival concert.

“We try not to focus a ton on just the ratings,” Beyer said. “Festival is just a great opportunity to get out and show the fruits of our labor the last few months to a broader Michigan audience and also get some excellent professional feedback for improvement.”

Courtesy Photo by Robert Sullivan Alpena High School and Thunder Bay Junior High Band Director Brad Beyer is proud of the bands' accomplishments.