Bands receive top rating
Cedar Springs hosted the MSBOA District 7 Band Festival on February 24-26 with a total of 25 bands from area middle schools and high schools participating. All of the bands from Cedar Springs (7th, 8th, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble) all received a First Division Rating. The 7th grade and Symphonic Bands were under the direction of Robert Robuck. Adam Borst is the director for the 8th grade band and Wind Ensemble.
The CSHS Wind Ensemble will now advance to State MSBOA Festival on Friday, April 23 at Big Rapids.
New uniforms proposed
Cedar Springs band directors Adam Borst and James Green were at the Board of Education meeting Monday night to propose the purchase of new band uniforms for the High School marching band.
The band last bought uniforms around 2001. “They are starting to fall apart at the seams,” said Borst, noting that they receive a lot of wear and tear because they are dry cleaned and altered each year. “We are involved in a lot of different performances,” he said. The band is also competing in the MCBA (they went to state this year), a more competitive association.
The uniforms they are looking at would be machine-washable, not wool. The pants and cuffs also have snaps, so they would not need to be altered like the current ones. The uniform would also be copyrighted. “We are the only one with this design in the country,” noted Borst.
Borst said that with the help of the band boosters and budget line items they have been saving each year toward the purchase, which is expected to be $54,855. They have saved about half that amount, and the school would pay the other half.
“It’s with pride that we have protected that money,” noted Carolee Cole, who had high praise for the accomplishments of the band.
Borst noted that next fall not only will they host the 47th Red Flannel Band Competition, the longest running band festival in the state of Michigan, but they will also host the state MCBA competition on October 9.
The board saw a sample of the uniform they proposed, and hope to make a decision at their next board meeting on March 22.
