Thank you to all the parents who put their laundry skills to work and signed up to wash the band uniforms for storage until next year. We would like to thank Lexine Pishue, Heidi Schroeder Hill, Sue Heintz, Krista Harmon, Mandy Schmole, Kari Matthews, Jill Chapin, Dawn Payne, Kimberly LeVelle, Anja Stadler, Laura Kohler and Kevin Rudiger. We appreciate your cleaning prowess.

If you’re looking for a worthwhile way to support your friendly Cleveland community this summer, the Friends of Cleveland Bands needs your help with the following upcoming events:

• Band Car Wash Fundraiser, August 9th: We will hold our 2025 Car Wash in the Cleveland Parking lot. This fundraiser raises over $1000 for the band. We need a parent to lead this activity and coordinate getting the supplies from the existing car wash lead.
• Providence Bridge Pedal, August 10th: We need an adult to take lead several band students to volunteer for assist with the bridge pedal. There is a training session to attend. More details will be coming. Providence makes a donation to our band program in exchange for this volunteering.
• Sponsorship and Fundraising Board Positions 2025-26: The two members who filled these roles for this school year are taking new positions, leaving these roles empty. These roles are relatively low work and can bring in significant financial support.
• Treasurer-in-Training Board Position: We are asking for a person to shadow our current Treasurer to learn our operations, in order to take over for our Treasurer in the 2026-2027 school year. This is a well documented but important position!
• Videography: A few years ago a band parent who was skilled at video production came in and interviewed Mr. Riler and shot footage of the band rehearsing. That video turned out fantastic, but features students who have since graduated. We would love to put something new together if anyone has skills in this area. It may be possible to pull the students in to help.

Please email volunteer.coordinator@clevelandbandspdx.com if you think you can help with any of these activities. And if you haven’t yet – complete your background check with PPS here: https://www.pps.net/volunteer.

Just a reminder that we have a Cleveland Band Merch Store!

There are some great summer options including polos with UV protection for those blazing summer days ahead! We on the board have chosen to keep the cost of the band merch store low, so everybody can show their Cleveland pride! So go get your Cleveland Merch and look cool all summer

We have 124 uniforms that need to be washed before the end of the school year. We are looking for 12 parents to take 10 uniforms each for machine washing.

Click here to help out!

Mr. Riler will have them available for pick up during the school day on June 3rd and 6th. They need to be returned to the band room by 3pm on June 12th.

Washing instructions are provided on the sign up page, and of course you are more than welcome to sign up for more than one slot!! Thank you so much for your support.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped outfit, water and support our band as they performed in this year’s Starlight parade. Specifically we would like to thank Bayra Garfield, Carolyn Choi, Michelle Lee, Kimberly LeVelle, Katie Mangle, Andrew Rice, Sue Heintz, Gregg Heintz, TK Conrad, Linh Vu, Mark Friel, Heather Randol, Krista Harmon, Peter Harmon, Kari Brooke, Ansel Harris Crowne, Orion and anyone else who showed up to help.

The next FOCB board meeting is Monday, June 2nd at 6:30 pm.

If you’re interested in getting involved with us and help support our band program, this meeting is the perfect opportunity to get plugged in! Someone will be at the back entrance gate on SE 28th just before 6:30 pm to let you in. Email info@clevelandbandspdx.com for more information.

 

It’s that time of year again!  Our end of year celebration will be taking place Tuesday May 27th at Pietro’s in Milwaukie – 10300 SE Main St

The party is from 4 – 6pm, with Senior picture taking place around 5pm, with awards to follow. See you tomorrow night!

We’re very close to the Starlight Parade next weekend! The next few rehearsals are important, so if your student will have a conflict please try to resolve it, and if you can’t resolve it, make sure it’s communicated ASAP to Mr. Riler!

Here are all the details:

Full Band Rehearsals with Color Guard, Dance & Cheer

• Thursday, May 29 – 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Friday, May 30 – 3:45pm – 5:15pm

Parade Day Schedule – Saturday, May 31

• 3:30pm – Drumline Arrive to double check equipment
• 4:20pm – Uniform Team arrive to put uniform racks at station
• 4:45pm – ALL UNITS Arrive (BAND, COLOR GUARD, DANCE, CHEER)
  BAND – Wear shorts and t-shirt, black socks and ALL Black shoes
• 4:55pm – Put uniform on
• 5:10pm – Section uniform check then
• 5:20pm – Get instruments (NO PLAYING!!)
  (Woodwinds in Bandroom)
  (Brass & Percussion on the Stage)
• 5:30pm – Apply double-sided tape to bells and affix finger lights
• 5:55pm – Form up in parking lot (by portables) for final inspection
• 6:15pm – Picture in front of the school
• 6:30pm – Load Busses on Franklin (plumes distributed)
• 7:10pm – Busses Drop off at Parade
• 10:00pm – Load busses and head back to CHS (plumes collected)
• 10:30pm – Approximate arrival time back to CHS
• 11:30pm – Uniform Team return racks to uniform room and Hat Boxes to the Bandroom

Uniforms need to be returned to their hanger and garment bag after the parade, and hung on the correct rack. Please leave the bag unzipped. It’s critical that nobody leaves with any piece of their uniform!

Congratulations to the Cleveland HS Wind Ensemble on a beautiful performance in the OSAA State Championships stage.  They earned a 5th place finish giving them 4 top 5 finishes in a row!!

The Cleveland Band program is THE ONLY program in the state to place in the State Jazz Championships AND the State Band Championships the last two years!

A testament to a group of students with a tremendous work ethic and an incredible collaborative spirit.  They are not only wonderful musicians, but are truly special human beings.

A special thank you to our section coaches!!
Also a special thanks to our retreat clinicians:
Ed Powell & Michael Burch-Pesses

A special thanks to Ed Protzman for his support this last week, as well.

I am Humbled and blessed!
Gary

We have an amazing opportunity to show our appreciation for the heart and soul of our school band — Gary Riler — by helping them win a $10,000 prize and much-deserved national recognition through the Barry Manilow Music Project!

Mr Riler has gone above and beyond for our kids — inspiring them, challenging them, and helping them find their rhythm both on and off the stage. Now it’s our turn to give back.

Here’s how you can help:

• Vote daily at this link

• Share the link with friends, family, and on social media

• Encourage your kids to spread the word too!

Every vote counts, and the competition is tough. But if there’s one thing our band community knows how to do — it’s come together and make noise when it matters most.

Let’s get Mr. Riler the recognition they deserve — and show the world that this band’s got the fanilows (I’m so sorry) to make it happen!