UCS strikes up the bands on October 6

Crisp autumn air, pristine turf, cheering spectators and playing under stadium lights can mean only one thing (no, it’s not football).

It means it’s time again for Band-A-Rama, Utica Community Schools’ annual fall marching band extravaganza set to ‘kickoff’ at 7 p.m. Sunday, October 6 at Runkel Stadium on the grounds of Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights. 

Drum majors representing their fellow student musicians from the Henry Ford II Falcon Marching Band, Stevenson Titan Marching Band, Utica Chieftain Marching Band and the Eisenhower Marching Eagles joined forces to pose for a photo to promote the scholarship fundraising event. The students invite everyone to come out to the October 6 performance – one of the biggest music events of the school year. 

Band-A-Rama patrons will see the Utica Chieftains rock out on “Bond James Bond,” the Ford II Falcons roll with “Life’s a Beach,” the Eisenhower Eagles bring the “Legends of Rock” to life and the Stevenson Titans swing to “Vegas, Baby!” 

It’s clear that music has been a positive influence in the lives of these students. Eisenhower drum major Jon Ulicny promised this year’s Band-A-Rama, his last as a senior, “will be the best one ever!” Jon is looking forward to majoring in business in college next year.

Senior Lauren Heide, Ford II drum major and symphonic orchestra member who began violin lessons in elementary school, agreed, adding that music invokes a special passion. “It’s an outlet on bad days and a pickup on good days.” Lauren intends to study actuarial science at the University of Michigan. 

Stevenson’s Michael Pacholski, also a senior leader, said he “loves band because so many people can work together for a common goal and have fun at the same time.” Michael has applied to attend Rutgers University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.

Eisenhower drum major Maria DiGiovanni, a junior, said she believes her band experiences have fostered lifelong friendships. “It brings me closer to people, some I never would have gotten to know. And even if it doesn’t make you a good musician, it makes you a good decision maker.”

Band-A-Rama has been existence for more than 30 years, according to Michael Sekich, Stevenson Titan band director and 24-year teaching veteran, who fondly recalls taking part when he was a high school band student at Stevenson. 

And while the award-winning marching bands from the district’s four high schools are sure to bring their best precision routines and music skills to their field performances at the show, Band-A-Rama is not a competition.

Rather, it is the only opportunity for the band students – and their proud families and supportive fans in the stands – to see the other UCS schools perform in one live venue. Band-A-Rama also serves as a dress rehearsal for the bands’ performances at the upcoming Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) festivals. 

If the Stevenson and Utica students look especially sharp this season, it may be because they are wearing new uniforms, paid for in part by a donation from the Utica Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence, with the balance paid from district funds. The new uniforms replaced those that were 12 to 15 years old. The district plans to replace the Eisenhower and Ford II uniforms in the near future with the Foundation planning to chip in as well. It’s clearly a community effort to support a vibrant community asset.

All ticket proceeds from Band-A-Rama benefit the Gonda Memorial Music Scholarship to fund opportunities for UCS band students to further their music education. Named in honor of Louis Gonda, the first band director at Utica High School, Gonda scholarships have enabled hundreds of students over the years to attend music camps, take private lessons or otherwise enrich their music study while still in high school. 

UCS student musicians in eleventh grade and younger who earn Division 1 ratings at the district MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival are eligible to audition for a scholarship.

The MSBOA District Festival dates this year are Tuesday, October 8 at L’Anse Creuse North High School where the Utica and Eisenhower High school bands will compete at 7:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. respectively, and Wednesday, October 9 at Stevenson High School where the Ford II and Stevenson High school bands will compete at 8:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. respectively. 

The band program encourages anyone planning to attend the MSBOA festivals to purchase pre-sale tickets from any Utica Community Schools band member or at any of the four schools. Proceeds from pre-sale tickets go to the schools.