It’s finally here, Play-A-Thon will start at 4pm this Friday, October 3rd!

Thank you to all of you who have already donated, and thank you in advance to all of you who plan to donate during our performances on Friday. Please let everyone you know who supports your student and anyone who supports music programs as part of our high schools that they can support us at our GoFundMe site. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, help us make it count!

DONATE HERE AT OUR GOFUNDME

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights!

Doors will be open at 4pm for everyone to come watch our band play live. The bands love to perform for a live audience, and the best way to experience live music is in person. If you cannot make it in person the event will be streaming on the Cleveland Bands Website or our GoFundMe page

There will be door prizes

Generous businesses have donated items to support our band. There will be an entry box for you to provide your name and email address to be entered into a drawing for one of several door prizes. One entry per person please. No purchase necessary, but there will be a donation box to drop off a check or scan a QR code near the door prize entry box if you are so inclined.

All donors who contribute through the GoFundMe site before Monday October 6th will automatically be entered into the door prize drawing.

Prizes will randomly be awarded to GoFundMe donors and physical entries collected at the Play-A-Thon on Monday October 6th. Recipients will be contacted by email.

Thank you to the following businesses for supporting our bands by donating door prizes – you’re helping make this sensational, inspirational, celebrational, and Muppetational:

• Hopscotch
• From True West/Aladdin Theater
• KingPins
• Birdie Time
• Bhakti Yoga Movement Center

The show must go on – and it starts THIS FRIDAY! Yaaaaay!

We have less than a week until Play-a-Thon!!  Come support our musicians during our largest fundraiser of the year! Stay and supervise students or drop off supplies and goodies and go – whatever you have the time for, we need your help! Click here to sign-up.

Questions? Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.coordinator@clevelandbandspdx.com

Here is a request from the Play-A-Thon livestream media department.

We are looking for a few extra smart phones to borrow for use during the performance to allow us to set up some additional camera angles for our livestream. Perhaps your family has an old smart phone they are not using any more? They just need to be unlocked and have a functional camera and wifi, no mobile plan necessary.

We could also use a couple of tripods.

If you can help out, please contact our Communications Coordinator at communications@clevelandbandspdx.com

We are looking for 6 volunteers to help serve pizza to hungry Pep Band musicians on Friday, September 26th. We will be hosting incoming 8th grade musicians and will have many mouths to feed prior to the big game.  Click here to sign-up.

Please make sure you have reviewed and signed the handbook. There is a lot of important information in the handbook that outlines requirements for practice, materials, and dress code for concerts. While you’re at it, take the time to subscribe to the calendar and bookmark our website!

CLEVELAND BANDS 2025-26 HANDBOOK

Families of students using a school district instrument must fill out the district contract form. If you have not filled this out yet, please use the link below to fill out the required information on the Google Form.

PPS INSTRUMENT CONTRACT LINK

When: Monday, September 8, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
Where: Cleveland High School Auditorium

All band parents are required to attend this brief but important meeting. In just 45 minutes, you’ll get essential updates on band procedures, upcoming fundraisers including our amazing Play-A-Thon, and details about the current pep band situation. This is an information packed meeting that will help ensure your student’s year in band is full of great experiences and that you aren’t caught off guard by any requirements that come up throughout the year! We look forward to seeing you there!

And, if you feel so inclined, the next FOCB Board Meeting is directly after, in the band room. Stay to see how the sausage gets made!

There has been a bit of local media coverage of the contract negotiations, click here to see what they’re saying:

Where is the fight without the fight song? Portland high schools are about to find out [The Oregonian]

Bands won’t play at Portland high school football games this season as music directors protest pay [The Oregonian – Editorial]

Portland high schools face the music: pep bands take a rest over pay dispute [Video] [KATU]

 

When: Friday, September 12, 2025
Time: 5:45 PM – 10:15 PM
Where: Cleveland HS Football Field

We’re on standby! If a signed agreement can be reached by September 9, we’re on for  a pep band performance on Friday, September 12 for the first home football game of the season! Students should arrive by 5:45 PM ready to bring the spirit as Cleveland takes on Aloha High. This is a great opportunity to support the team and showcase our band’s energy and talent.

Mr. Riler will send an official go/no-go email by Tuesday evening, so please keep an eye on your inboxes.