On March 4, Monroe High School’s orchestra attended the Michigan Solo Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) festival at Woodhaven High School where they exclusively played two pieces of music for three judges, earning all top ratings.

The Orchestra has been working on their music since Sept., getting ready for the MSBOA festival.

Senior Lauryn Hightower, the president of the orchestra, led her group to finish with a perfect score of straight ones. Hightower is not only the orchestra president, but is also the cello section leader.

“The other officers and I took charge of getting the rest of the orchestra to where we needed to be and made sure we stayed quiet. The judges start judging you from the moment you walk in the building,” said Hightower. 

Hightower is not the only member who led the orchestra to get a perfect score. Junior first chair violinist Mackenzie Longfellow, who leads the group in tuning and is the section leader for first violins, also helped the group achieve high ratings.

 “It was really nice to continue our streak of getting ones at festival on Felder’s last year before retiring,” Longfellow said. “And to get all ones this year was a great send-off for her.”

Junior Emily Benitez is the orchestra’s viola section leader.

“For me, the festival was all about preparation. I’m section leader, so I had to learn the music, play it out, and help the other viola players in my section,” said Benitez.