MCC band receives superior rating at state band festival.

MCC band receives superior rating at state band festival.

MANISTEE — The Mason County Central High School Symphonic Winds band received a superior (1) rating at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s state festival held at Manistee high School on May 1. The band performed two works for a panel of three judges. A fourth judge was a clinician who worked with the band for about 15 minutes following their performance. This was the first year for that format, Tom Thomas, director of MCC bands, said. 

“I am certainly proud of all my kids,” Thomas said. “Between my health and our crazy weather, we absolutely could have just gave up but the kids responded and made a gem of a year.”

Thomas is battling kidney disease which threatened to put him on dialysis in February.  “I was going to a doctor appointment in February via the Cadillac home dialysis center.  They gave me a tour, showed me the machine I was going to use, confirmed a home visit the next day and told me the surgeon was ordered to put the port in.  When I went to the doctor, he said my most recent blood work had greatly improved and we postponed dialysis.  My March appointment showed my numbers to be stable and so my next appointment is in June.”