Michigan high school marching band students left it all on the field at the state championship competition at Ford Field last Saturday, Nov. 1.

Fifty-one high school bands competed for state titles. Schools are divided up into “flights,” based on school size, with Flight I being the largest and Flight V being the smallest. Each flight is judged separately, meaning five different state champions are crowned .

Marching bands competing in the Michigan Competing Bands Association circuit are judged for music excellence, visual excellence and “general effect,” which is how well a band’s performance theme is conveyed to the audience.

Many of these Michigan marching band performances are highly produced Broadway-style theatrical shows. They can feature soloists, large props, costume change

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