Grand Ledge High School Band has won multiple awards underneath Director John Szczerowski since 2016. To add to the band’s outstanding success, a new addition was added in 2023. Courtney Ries, a Junior at Grand Ledge, joined the Grand Ledge Marching Band (GLMB) already prepared with prior knowledge of the marching band’s music.
Ries shared her beginnings with GLMB, “I remember the day I figured out that I made the marching band in either grade – I was in the car with my mom and she asked me if I would be interested in playing the keyboard for the marching band because Mr. S asked me if I wanted to look over the music and I was so happy and excited,” Ries said.
The junior became interested in band as both of her older sisters did both marching and concert band in their high school years. Ries is now a part of the drumline playing the synthesizer or commonly known as the keyboard. She doesn’t just thrive in the band, but in her time management as well. Courtney’s a percussionist, swimmer, track athlete, singer, and a full time high school student.
“I manage it the best I can. After school I will always go to swim and then on Mondays and Wednesdays I will go to band after and then on Fridays I won’t go to swim and go to the football game because we have rehearsal before the game. Choir is just a class unless there’s a concert then I have to focus on splitting my time. So for a little bit I’ll go to band rehearsal then I’ll show up to choir at my report time,” Ries said. Ries’ favorite performance this year so far has been the infamous Grand Ledge Exhibition held at the high school’s community field. She shares how the band had just learned their performing piece the day before and in her opinion nailed it.
“We performed it and it wasn’t a train wreck. I know a lot of my friends from other schools were in the audience and it was just so great,” Ries said. Learning pieces prior to performances with little to no time brings nerves for most. Ries shares how she keeps hers under control.
“I mostly focus on taking deep breaths, focus on the music I’m about to play and make sure I’m playing the right song. I try to kind of deflect it off of me a bit and tell my section mates like good job and you got this – that type of stuff,” Ries said. Her time in the band so far has been what some can say memorable. Ries now waits for her senior season next fall, “I really want to be more confident of a player and I’ve known for a while I hate playing by myself. I love playing as a line so I want to be able to feel more confident and have more sound out of what I play,” Ries said.
