Clawson Marching Band Aces Competition, Aims for New Uniforms

The band is ending the marching band season on a perfect note.

This month, the marching band scored straight 1's (the highest score) in the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Marching in Rochester Hills. The band was scored in marching/maneuvering, music and general effect.

It's a major accomplishment for the band, which hasn't scored perfectly in at least three decades, said band Director Kevin Phillips. It has also been four years since the band scored a 1 in the overall, which is the average of each category score.

"I was very pleased with them," Phillips said. "When you work hard, it shows up."

At the competition, judges score the bands on a scale of 1 (superior), 2 (excellent), 3 (good), 4 (fair) and 5 (poor). Each band has 15 minutes to get on the field, perform and leave the field, Phillips said. This year, Clawson played four songs with the theme "Birds."

The band competes in the festival almost every year, and this year's students have been practicing since band camp in August. Band members say they practice about seven hours a week, plus they perform at home football games.

"It's hard work; you get hot and sweaty (practicing)," said senior band captain Bryan Lakey. "But you want to do good since it's your senior year."

Clawson is usually the smallest school in the competition, and students say other schools have more vigorous practice schedules. But that didn't stop the band from putting forth its greatest effort.

"A lot of underclassmen tried harder at the competition," senior Kayla Pentecost said, adding that underclassmen are often less experienced and easily distracted.

New uniforms needed

As a successful marching band season comes to an end, Phillips and his students have two things on their radar: concert season and new uniforms.

Phillips said the current uniforms are 21 years old, and the band would like to replace them before next school year.

But the challenge will be finding the $36,000 needed to purchase brand-new uniforms. This year, there are 75 students in the band.

"They (the uniforms) are at the end," Phillips said. "I've got kids in the band whose moms and dads wore these uniforms."

Parents have tried to help keep the uniforms intact, but they are "falling apart," Phillips said.

The donated $500 at the on Oct. 5, during which the band performed. Phillips said that is helpful but is only a small step toward their goal.

The band plans to hold fundraisers and seek funds from the school district to buy uniforms.

Mark your calendar

With concert season starting, the Clawson High School band is preparing for two annual concerts. The Cabaret Concert will be Nov. 15, and the Holiday Jam is in December. Attendees are asked to bring a canned food item for the needy to the Holiday Jam concert. Check back with the Clawson Patch for more details on both events.