The Dearborn Band & Orchestra Festival is an annual event hosted by Edsel Ford High School and their instrumental music director, Mr. Alex Armstead.
This event provides an opportunity for Dearborn middle and high schools, to receive feedback on how well they perform three prepared musical selections. The groups are judged in areas of correct notes, rhythm, dynamics, phrasing, articulation and tone quality.
In a separate portion of the festival, each group is judged on how well they can “sight read” a new musical composition after having only 5 minutes to study the music without playing their instruments.
The Dearborn Band & Orchestra Festival is a positive experience for the students. Even if they do not receive a high grade on their performance, they learn, from judges and clinicians, methods to improve their performance skills for the future.
