We wish to begin this week by offering congratulations to some students in our program. We have 5 ‘Texas Music Scholars’ this year, who have earned the high honor of this State award issued by the Texas Music Educators Association! Vince Barrera, Benjamin Castañeda, Eva Garcia, Elena Molina, and Angelica Soto all earned this honor for maintaining outstanding academic and music achievements! We will present their state awards to them at their end of year awards ceremonies. We’d also like to take a chance to congratulate Javier Martinez and Alma Almendarez for their outstanding accomplishments at the Regional Track meet this past weekend!

We don’t have any events scheduled for this week beyond our practices in the afternoons/evenings. I do want to make sure that I share that we are still in need of an Owl Band Booster President for next year. We have found willing parents for the other roles, but are still in need of someone to fill that role! I know it may seem daunting, but we must have someone step into that role for the organization to continue to support our program. Please contact Mrs. Mandi Edwards or myself for information if you might be available to step into this role!

Monday and Thursday after school this week from 4:30pm-5:30pm, anyone interested in Color Guard should please come attend practices. Leadership Training will be Tuesday and Thursday this week from 3:45pm-4:30pm, and Drum Majors will stay until 5pm. We will be having Drum Major and Guard Tryouts on May 3^rd. 

Our final Cleveland Rehearsal of this month is Thursday – we must have all students present for that rehearsal! We are going to be doing a timing check of all of our pieces at this rehearsal!

Windi and Jazzi is next weekend, on May 4^th! We ask that you please purchase tickets by the end of this week if possible so we can make ample plans with our caterer. We will still be able to sell tickets at the door, but want to ensure we have a good number to give them. Those tickets are available at https://odemhsband.ludus.com

Moving back to our Cleveland trip, if you know of anyone who is in the Cleveland area who would like to purchase tickets, they may purchase them at https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/connections (Box seats are available, but only with a call to the box office. 216-231-1111 

Also, for those who are attending the Cleveland trip, there is a mandatory parent and student meeting on Thursday, May 16^th at 7pm. We will be going over rules, forms, etc. that night and need the student and one parent/guardian present for each. I understand there is a senior trip that day, we will need to schedule a one-on-one makeup meeting with those students/parents the next week.

This year’s HS Summer Band Schedule is now available here as well: http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-2025-Odem-Bands-Calendar-Version-1-4-7-2024.pdf One item that I will be discussing with 7^th-11^th Grade flute players is that the National Flute Association will be holding their annual convention in San Antonio this summer, and hosting a student day on Saturday, August 3^rd. I plan to take any flute players who are interested up to participate!

This Week’s Schedule:

Day:	Event:
Monday:	Band Hall Closed After SchoolGuard Practice 4:30 pm-5:30 pm
Tuesday:	Leadership Training 3:45 pm-4:30 pm Drum Major Training 4:30 pm-5:00 pm
Wednesday:	Band Hall Closed after School
Thursday:	Leadership Training 3:45 pm-4:30 pmDrum Major Training 4:30 pm-5:00 pmGuard Practice 4:30pm-5:30 pmCleveland Trip Rehearsal 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Friday:	No School for StudentsSouth Coast Jazz Festival at Tuloso-Midway Middle School(We had planned for our students to perform, but due to a conflict with Regional Academic Meet we have cancelled our performance. Students are still encouraged to attend to watch if they wish! We’ll start the first performances at 6pm, and finish with a Director’s Jazz Band starting at about 8:30pm. Admission is free!)

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
May 4th	Windi and Jazzi Fundraiser	5:30pm
May 10th	American Classics Festival: Odem HS Wind Ensemble and Odem JH Symphonic Winds at Del Mar College	2pm/3pm
May 13th	Odem JH Symphonic Winds and HS Spring Concert	6:30pm
May 14th	Odem JH Beginning Band and Concert Band Spring Concert	6:30pm
May 16th	Mandatory Cleveland Trip Student and Parent/Guardian Meeting	7pm
May 24th	Graduation
May 26th-27th	UIL State Solo and Ensemble
June 3rd	Cleveland Send-Off Performance
June 4th-8th	Cleveland Trip

Thank you for your help and support of these amazing students! Please contact us if you have any questions!