MARQUETTE -- Upper Peninsula band students had their district band and orchestra festival Thursday in Marquette's Kaufman Auditorium. The festival featured five area schools including Escanaba, Negaunee and Superior Central. The bands and orchestras performed before three judges. They were rating the groups' performances using criteria like tone and timing.

"It's a little bit stressful, but it's a great experience for them. These are all really great students; music students are hard working students to begin with," said MSHS Band Director Dr. Matthew Ludwig. "It's nice for them to get the opportunity to come up here and have a day and get some feedback about what they're playing and how they're doing."
 
Each band and orchestra received a rating from one to five with a one being the best. Each group performed three pieces of music.