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The Maricopa High School Marching Rams and the MHS Chamber Orchestra both performed before judges during the past week, both collecting strong feedback.

The Marching Rams performed Saturday at the Arizona Marching Band Association (AzMBA) Millennium Show in Goodyear and finished in second place in the 3A class. The band earned praise for establishing solid musical and visual performance fundamentals in the first part of the year, significant contributions from all sections of the band, and growth in percussion and color guard performance.

“We will be using this feedback to build the objectives for our Fall Band Camp for our students Oct. 8-12 and the band will return to competition on Oct. 13 at University of Arizona Band Day,” Director Ivan Pour said.

The band finished just ahead of a very good Verrado High School program and trailing Chandler Perry. Based on judge’s comments, the Marching Rams are off to one of their best starts in recent years.

Friday, the MHS Chamber Orchestra traveled to Campo Verde High School in Gilbert to participate in the ABODA (Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association) Fall Orchestra Festival. The orchestra performed well, receiving top-notch feedback from a judging panel including Margaret Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of music education at Arizona State University, Cayce Miners, director of orchestras at Tucson Magnet High School in Tucson, and John Haggard, director of orchestras at Mesa Red Mountain High School.

The orchestra received praise for their work in the classroom on musical interpretation, contrasting styles and dynamics. Following their performance, the orchestra enjoyed a 30-minute clinic with Arizona State University Associate Director of Bands Jason Caslor, Ph.D., where they worked on maintaining intensity in their musical performance and bringing out the main musical ideas in their repertoire.

In addition to their performance and clinic, the orchestra was proud to support the Desert Wind Middle School Orchestra in their first ever Fall Festival Performance.

“It was so great to see the huge DWMS orchestra take the stage and to hear these budding musicians perform,” Pour said. “We can’t wait until we see all of them as Maricopa High School Orchestra Rams.”

The orchestra will be performing in the MHS Instrumental Music “Pass in Review Concert” on Dec. 4 along with the MHS Symphonic Band and the MHS Marching Rams. The show begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

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