Category: Archive

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PIL Solo and Ensemble Applications Due

This year’s solo and ensemble competitions will take place Saturday, February 29 at Wilson HS. Students who plan to participate should already have forms for parent signatures—these must be returned by tomorrow (Tuesday, February 4).

Please note that all participation fees will be paid for by the Friends of Cleveland Bands. Thank you, FOCB! Participation letter and registration forms can be found here »

CHS Jazz Ensemble at West Salem Jazz Festival this Saturday

Our CHS Jazz Ensemble will be competing this weekend at the West Salem Jazz Festival. Please come out and show them some support and enjoy some great jazz music! The Festival will be held this Saturday, February 8 at West Salem Auditorium located at 1776 Titan Drive NW, Salem, OR 97304. View letter & itinerary »

Tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for students, seniors, and military. Cleveland is scheduled to perform at 8:30pm. If you wish to join the band on the bus, we have plenty of seats available. Contact Mr Riler via email to let him know you are interested in travelling with the band.

OMEA All-City Honor Band a Huge Success

This past weekend, top musicians from seven Portland high schools and twelve middle schools came together for an intense two days of practice culminating in a knock-out performances under the direction of Pat Vandehey from Portland State University and Jennifer Bell of Whiteaker MS in Salem School District. The event was again chaired by our own Mr. Riler.

“It gave me not only a better understanding of what it means to be a musician but also what it takes to be one of the best at what you do.”
– Zacheyea Swires-Arnold, Senior / Bari Sax

Summer Music Camps and Other Opportunities

Looking for ways to help your student improve their skills on their instrument and grow as a musician? Check out our Resources page on the Cleveland Bands website for a host of information about music workshops, summer music camps in the area and around the state, a list of excellent private teachers for every instrument, and much more.

Studies show that consistent, disciplined practice is the single most important factor in improving music skills. Ensemble opportunities and regular lessons over the long summer break are a great way to increase proficiency from one school year to the next.

Partial summer scholarships for music camps are available courtesy of the Friends of Cleveland Bands. (Thank you again, FOCB!) Please contact Stacy Lovett at salovett75@gmail.com directly for more info.

OMEA District 1 Honor Band This Weekend

We wish you the best as you work with an amazing director – Pat Vandehey from Portland State University, and some of your best musical peers in Portland Public Schools. Anyone wanting to hear their performance can attend the Franklin HS Auditorium on Saturday, February 1st at 7:00 pm.

All City Honor Band 2020
Dana Frederick – Oboe
Lena Thomas – Bassoon
Lilly Belisle – Clarinet
Ellie Lane – Clarinet
Susan McHarris – Alto Saxophone
Calder Muller – Alto Saxophone
Tucker Ramsey – Tenor Saxophone
Maia Connelly – Trumpet
Elliot Hutfilz – Trumpet
Sal Wallin – Trumpet
Ray Randol – Horn
Ian Simpson – Horn
Miles Wheeler – Horn
Aaron Asay – Trombone (Tuba in our band)
Liem Friel – Trombone
Nick Frantz – Tuba
Radley Baker – Percussion

OMEA All-State Recap

Cleveland HS had 14 students perform in All-State Honor Groups the weekend of January 17-19.  All of the groups were fantastic with incredible directors brought in from Massachusetts, Kansas, Texas and California. This opportunity not only will help these students grow musically, but will also bring a sense of focus and pride back to our own ensembles.  Congratulations to all of our All-State musicians!!

From the Director: OMEA Wind Symphony Performance @ Soreng Theater

The Cleveland Wind Symphony sent a wave around the conference after their performance on Saturday afternoon. People who attended stopped me to congratulate me and the students. People who missed our performance, stopped me to tell me that they had heard that the band had performed really well. We as the musicians on the stage focus on the things we miss, or don’t quite attain, but the audience was truly moved by our performance giving us a standing ovation at the conclusion of our last piece.
I received the following Facebook post from Michael Burch-Pesses. He is the band director at Pacific University and the director of an Auditioned adult Wind Band called the Oregon Symphonic Band. He is also a former Director of Bands in the Navy.
“Dear Gary and the Cleveland HS Wind Symphony: What a stunning performance in every respect. So crisp and clean with everyone articulating together. So beautifully in tune and such lovely tone from every section. So emotional with attention to the rise and fall of the musical line. And very important, a wonderfully balanced program overall. I’m sure you know how blessed you are to have a conductor and teacher of Mr. Riler’s caliber. Gary, I’m so proud of the work you’ve done at Cleveland and so happy to be your colleague. Warmest congratulations to all!”
Paul Nickolas, who had worked with our group the Monday evening prior to our performance was also in attendance. He came up to me afterward grinning ear to ear to congratulate me and the band.
Although the students and parents of this program did not completely understand what this performance represented, I believe it became much clearer when we were on that stage. This was an amazing honor that only two HS bands received this year, and the Cleveland HS Wind Symphony absolutely proved that they deserved to be there.

Musically Yours,
Gary Riler

Finals Week for Band Classes: What to Expect

Final exams for band students are as follows:
  • Jazz Band and Jazz Lab Finals have already taken place at the Jazz Night concert on Friday, January 10. (Congratulations, jazz students!)
  • The Percussion final will take the form of individualized assessments on note names, rhythm reading, and rudiments. Grades will reflect growth.
  • Concert and Symphonic classes will perform chamber music for their final exams.
  • Wind Symphony will complete a listening exercise (using OMEA performance) and begin setting goals for 2nd semester.