With another high rating and great performance, the BHS Symphonic Band hosted the KSHSAA State Large Group Festival on April 9, earning a I rating for their skills

“We get rated on everything about our performance,” director Stuart O’Neil said. “Some people think it’s just how well you play which is kind of true but they break it down. They will judge us by tone, they will judge us on intonation, expression, right notes, right rhythm, blend, balance, all of the details.”

O’Neil thinks that the band did a great job.

“The band did great, we did really well,” he said.

The group worked hard to prepare for the festival well in advance.

“We had a concert two weeks prior, and we used that as a dress rehearsal, and then we took the remaining two weeks to learn some new music and then we also polished and refined some things,” O’ Neil said.

O’Neil enjoys the last quarter of the year with the band the best. 

“I enjoy the 4th quarter a lot because we lighten up, we play a lot of fun music, it’s still hard and the band is playing their best this time of year,” he explained.