University’s marching band received straight superiors on their MPA on November 4th. MPAs or Music Performance Assessments are held annually for the performing arts. These events provide an opportunity for students and directors to perform in an environment where they can showcase their skills while receiving an evaluation based off of set criteria.
UHS presented their show After at Boone High School and was granted the highest score possible. This production portrays the interval between death and the afterlife, inspired by John Henry Newman’s famous work The Dream of Gerontius. “We started planning from December to January of the previous school year and we probably met once a month, coming up with ideas to concepts, by May we had our first draft. I feel like these students have grown immensely. “This is one of the most improved bands I have had in my 18 years of teaching,” said Band Director Jeffery Willis.
The band has been working toward this since last year and committed to only their last competition on November 11, 2023, at FMBC. “Although MPA is not a competition, it is one of our last performances and it really felt like, put your all into it,” said Colorguard Captain senior Jocelys Isaac.
Students have rehearsed several days a week to ensure this show is their best performance yet. “The people around me work extremely hard, you can see it in rehearsals,” said freshman Maxwell Norris
