Otsego Public Schools Bands displayed both musical excellence and hospitality as they hosted the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) State Band Festival on April 22nd and 23rd. The district has proudly hosted this event for more than 20 years.

This year’s festival brought 26 bands from across Michigan to Otsego, making it one of the premier band events in the state. Behind the scenes, dozens of band boosters and volunteers supported the event, allowing the festival to run smoothly by supporting concert setup, scheduling, and greeting our guests from across the state.

Otsego band students delivered exceptional performances. Both the Symphonic Band and Concert Band earned straight Division I ratings, with judges classifying every aspect of their performances as “superior.”

Based on their division, both ensembles were only required to perform music from the “Class B” list, which is moderately challenging literature designed for developing ensembles. The Otsego band students opted to perform selections from the more advanced “Class AA” list, which demands a higher level of technical skill, musicality, and overall performance maturity.

According to Band Director Mitch Piersma, that decision made all the difference in their success. 

Otsego Public Schools extends sincere thanks to its band directors, Mitch Piersma and Jessica Grove, students, boosters, and volunteers for continuing a long-standing tradition of hosting this prestigious annual festival.