The Story of the Moon & Stars:
Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a mystical park, there lived a Marching Band struggling to compete at a National level. Suddenly, their Director (Glen Adsit) noticed that the Marching Band always performed better at night. The director began telling the Marching Band, "look for the moon; play for the moon; reach for the moon and the stars. "The Director contacted one of the talented parents (Annette Smigell) a few days before their next National's competition, and asked the parent to create a banner that the Marching Band could "reach for" inside the dome (since they wouldn't be able to see the real thing). The parent, using a black king-sized bed sheet, added a sparkling moon and stars to create the banner. The parent completed the task in time to inspire the Marching Band. That year (1990) was the first year the Marching Band won Nationals. The banner is closely guarded by another parent and is hung every year (only at States and Nationals, when the Marching Band can't see the real thing) and helps inspire the Marching Band to always "reach for the moon and stars."
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is dedicated to offering students a comprehensive musical education through its Concert Band program at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (PCEP), which consists of three high schools: Canton High School, Plymouth High School and Salem High School.
The Concert Band program consists of five bands: Varsity Band, Concert Band, Symphony Band, Chamber Winds and Wind Ensemble. Due to the number of students wanting to participate in the PCEP Band program, Chamber Winds, the second highest-level band, was added in 2013. Wind Ensemble, the highest level band, and Symphony band, have been consistently rated among the best in the state of Michigan.
PCEP band students and alumni have performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Civic Youth Orchestra, the Michigan Youth Band, the National Honor Band of America, Spartan Youth Wind Symphony, and the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) All State Honor Band and Orchestra.
The acclaimed Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is an extracurricular activity that is part of the band program at P-CEP. The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Marching Band has won more than 500 awards in 16 years. The Marching Band has earned the State Championship from the MCBA- Michigan Competing Bands Association 27 times and was the 2016 State Champion. The P-CEP Marching Band marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2011 and in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California in 2016.
Other extracurricular band programs include Jazz Band, the Winter Guard Program and the Winter Percussion Program. Both Winter Guard and Winter Percussion are competitive programs.
Supporting the PCEP band programs is the The Plymouth-Canton Music Boosters (PCMB), a parent-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.