The Starlight Parade is fast approaching! Here are the dates of the upcoming marching band practices:

• Monday, May 19 – 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Thursday, May 21 – 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Thursday, May 29 – 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Friday, May 30 – 3:45pm – 5:45pm

Speaking of fast approaching – we still need volunteers for the Starlight Parade!

We need 2 volunteers to help the band get ready at Cleveland and 2 more to ride the bus and support the band throughout the parade.

Please sign-up here and thanks, as always, for volunteering!

A big warm welcome to the new Friends of Cleveland Band board members:

• Director – Gary Riler
• President – Laurel Walker
• Vice President – Kris Carlson
• Secretary – Tayler Kim
• Treasurer – Khamille Neumann
• Communications – Lexine Pishue
• Communications Support – Dave Bleckman
• Volunteer Coordinator – Bree Ramage
• Hospitality – Alexis Abrams

Here’s to a great year, and thank you all for volunteering your time and efforts to support this amazing community!

Thank you to all the cake cutters and servers last Thursday that helped make our Spring Awards Concert a wonderful celebration. A shout out to Kelly Schauer, Alexis Abrams, Kari Matthews, Sarah Centerwall, Lexine Pishue, Susan Rosenkranz, Debbie Conrad, Beth Schaller, McKay Mott and Caroline Bleckmann. We couldn’t have refueled and celebrated the seniors and all post-concert without your help.

For the 4th year in a row, the Cleveland Jazz Ensemble has placed at the State Jazz Band Championships. This year, Cleveland placed 3rd behind PIL friendly rivals Grant (1st) and Roosevelt (2nd). It was the second year in a row that the PIL swept the top 3 places.

Please note the time change for the start of this concert. 

This concert has many things happening in it, as we celebrate some historical moments including a prestigious national award and congratulate all of our seniors. The music will be spectacular, as our Jazz groups throw in some popular music to this sets, and our Concert and Symphonic Bands bring the movies to the stage.  Our Wind Ensemble will be previewing their music that they will be playing at the State Band Championships.

Come out and help the band perform in the Starlight Parade on May 31!!! We need some volunteers to help the band get ready at Cleveland and others to ride the bus and support the band throughout the parade. Please sign-up here and thanks, as always, for volunteering.

The OSAA State Band Championships will occur on Saturday, May 17 at the LaSells Stewart Auditorium on the Oregon State University campus across from Reser Stadium.  There will be 20 bands in this competition, with the league winners performing in the evening.  You are guaranteed to enjoy 4 amazing ensembles if you come for the evening session from 6-8pm.

The last 4 bands are:

• 6pm – Mountainside (2nd last year)
• 6:30pm – Barlow
• 7pm – West Salem (State Champs last year)
• 7:30pm – Cleveland (3rd last year)

Awards will be around 8:45pm.

There is a fee for admission, and all info can be found here on the OSAA website.

Pastini on SE Division is hosting a fundraise where 40% of proceeds of tables participating will be donated to our band program. Mention our school and band program when you dine on or order take-out.

This is the last day for Seniors at CHS, so perhaps it is a reason to celebrate with dinner out at Pastini!

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.
• 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.