.png)
Submitted photo
Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Marching Band is nearing the end of its performance season, which has included several competitions. This is the second year that director Caleb Schultz has taken the band to competitions around the state. Its first competition of the season began at the Rockford Marching Invitational on Sept. 21 where it finished fifth place in class C division with a score of 56.9.
On Sept. 28, the band competed in the Grand Haven Marching Invitational and placed fifth again with a score of 69.4.
“The band had the highest score improvement from the prior week than any other band on the west Michigan competition circuit,” Schultz said.
On Oct. 5, the Spartans competed in the 64th Annual Cedar Springs Red Flannel Marching Band Invitation, along with marching in the Red Flannel Festival parade. Schultz said the competition is the longest running marching band invitational in Michigan. The band finished seventh place in class C with a score of 59.5.
On Oct. 7 the band participated in the Cadillac Marching Review with an exhibition performance. It then competed in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 1 festival in Big Rapids where it received a 1 rating (the top rating) for the sixth year.
The band is scheduled to participate in two more competitions this season this weekend, both on Saturday, Oct. 19. It will first compete at the East Kentwood Regional Invitational at 2 p.m. and then at the Reed City Glow Show Invitational at 8:10 p.m.
“These students are some of the hardest working students in the area and believe me we work them hard,” Schultz said. “Then, to have such a small window of time to only play for 8 minutes each show. It takes a lot of time, energy, and commitment to pull off something as well as they are doing it in just a short season as ours. I could not be more proud of the foundation these young students have built. I have no doubt the band will have continued successes for years to come with the parental support, community support, and school support that backs us every step of the way. We are forever thankful.”
Schultz is in his third year as MCC director of bands. He was hired in the summer of 2022 following the death of long-time band director Tom Thomas.
“The band program has been in a re-growth period these past couple of years,” Schultz said. “We have a very young band with great numbers coming up in the middle school.”
Schultz said the marching band includes 40 students with over half being seventh and eighth grade students.
“When you look at their rankings this season, it actually speaks volumes that we have a band that includes second and third year students competing with established high school bands. I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work these students have put into this.”
MCC Superintendent Jeff Mount praised Schultz and the band students for their work.
Submitted photo
“The MCC band program is thriving under the leadership of its energetic director, Caleb Schultz,” Mount said. “His personal passion and commitment is contagious. With every practice, the students grow in skill and confidence, inspired by a vision that sees way beyond the music, building a community of dedication and shared achievement. The future of the MCC Band Program is bright as Mr. Schultz inspires his students to do great things.”
Schultz also credited the students’ parents for their dedication.
“We have revitalized the band boosters program and many parents have stepped up to help raise funds and provide support during performances,” Schultz said. “The key to a successful band program is the support of parents and we are certainly on track with that.”
Just like with athletics, marching band season begins in the summer.
In early August, the students participated in a weeklong, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. day camp at the school. Then, later that month, the band traveled to Eagle Village in Hersey where it stayed for four days, holding 12 hour daily rehearsals and team-building activities.
“The students were able to bond and build many great relationships and foster a great work ethic amongst themselves,” Schultz said.
The marching band’s first 2024 performance was at Oriole Field where it performed jointly with the Ludington High School Marching Band at the Ludington vs. MCC varsity football game (MCC won the game 50-43).
“This has been a great tradition,” Schultz said. “There’s something about band students, musicians, that reaches beyond rivalries. I believe the kids in both bands look forward to this game every year and have a great time.”
The band has also performed at every home varsity football game this season with one more performance scheduled on Friday, Oct. 25 during the football game against Manistee at Spartan Community Field.
In addition to performing at last week’s homecoming game the band also marched in the homecoming parade.
Schultz said he also intends to bring the band back to the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival parade. The band performed in the parade in 2023 but not this year, due to newly married Schultz being gone on his honeymoon. He said it will return in 2025.
The marching band’s season ends with the band participating in the MCC elementary schools’ Halloween parade in Scottville on Thursday, Oct. 31. The parade begins at 1:45 p.m. with students from both elementary schools walking, in costume, a route on Maple Street to Loomis Street, to Beryl Street, in front of the middle school, and looping back to each respective building.
__________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
If you would like to support MCP/OCP but do not wish to receive daily emails, please consider sending a contribution to any of the above methods or pay by Venmo (@masoncountypress).
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2024, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
.jpg)
