There will be a band parent's meeting Tuesday, May 13 at 7 pm, in the band hall, immediately following the Orchestra Concert.

Agenda items include Election of Officers, Bylaw approval, 07-08 Band Parents Officer and Chairmen Recognition and end-of-year/summer band happenings. The meeting will also feature Kim Higgins from MADD who will talk briefly about parent awareness of teenage alcohol consumption. Kim will have MADD information available and will allow time for questions and answers on this subject.

All parents are welcome to attend, as well as incoming 9th grade parents for the 08-09 school year.

Many changes and updates have been made to the calendar.

Summer is around the corner! As you plan your summer activities and vacations, please keep in mind our band camp dates. Please mark your calendar accordingly.

If you would like to purchase a recording of one of the band's UIL performances, please print this form and mail with a check to:

Jordan Sound
P.O. Box 170
Bullard, TX 75757

View the form here

Congratulations to all of the concert bands for their outstanding performances at UIL Concert & Sight-reading Contest!

Concert Band: 2-2-2 in concert and 2-2-3 in sight-reading
Symphonic Band: 2-2-1 in concert and 2-2-2 in sight-reading
Wind Ensemble: 1-1-1 in concert and 1-1-1 in sight-reading

Thanks for all of your hard work!

Scholarship applications for the Goodman-Greenberg Memorial Scholarship which was established in memory of Sandra Greenberg Sharpe are now available in the band office. Seniors currently participating in the REL Band program are eligible to apply. Completed applications must be returned to the band office by Wednesday, April 30.

Congratulations to the REL Jazz Band for their successful performance at the 16th Annual CCCC Jazz Fest! The group traveled to Plano April 5th to participate in the event. Caleb Ketcham, Gabe Roberson, Tevin Hill, and Madison Mackey received individual outstanding musicianship awards. Congratulations on all of your success!

It is that time of year again! The historians are needing your band pictures for this year's band video. We are really striving to include all students in the video, and we need everyone's pictures in order to do so. We have asked that all pictures be turned in by at least May 1st, however we can be flexible as needed. We would love to get those as soon as possible!!! There is a shoe box in the office that students can place pictures or CDs of pictures in. Be sure to put your student's name (and maybe yours) on them if you want them back.

SENIOR PARENTS: Don't forget that this is the year to turn in your child's three pictures: Baby pic, senior pic, and something in between! Inside the shoe box is a large envelope marked for Sr. Pictures. We would love these as soon as possible, and would like to have them no later than May 1st, but we understand that with some taking spring pictures we may have to wait for them. That is fine, we can work with that, just please tell us so we will know!

If you have any questions just email them to sbreiter90@yahoo.com.

The REL Color Guard competed at the MA National Competition in Fort Worth Texas in several different categories March 29-30.

In the Ensemble division the ensemble of senior Allison Hughes, senior Kaylee Garvey, and junior Chelsea Thompson received 2nd place overall, along with a superior rating.

The ensemble of Allison Hughes, Haleigh Mosley, Lexxy LeBlanc, Cayla Thompson, and Cheyenne Johnson received a Superior Rating on their small ensemble.

In the Solo division, Chelsea Thompson, Haleigh Mosley, and Lexxy LeBlanc recieved Superior ratings on their individual solos.

In the Color Guard Team division, the REL Color Guard recieved a Superior rating, along with recieving 4th place overall in the Color Guard Team division.

Congratulations ladies, thank you for all your hard work!

The Tyler Lee Color Guard competed at the MA North East Texas Regional indoor competition held at John Tyler High School March 1st.

The Small Ensemble recieved 1st place in their division. Performers Allison Hughes, Kaylee Garvey, Chelsea Thompson and Marissa Caid recieved a superior score along with their first place placement advancing them to the State Competition to be held in Fort Worth March 29-30.

Also recieving Superior Scores advancing them to the state competition in the Solo Category-

Freshman Jamie Valentine
Sophmore Lexxy LeBlanc
Junior Haleigh Mosely
Junior Chelsea Thompson

The REL Winter Guard Production also received superior scores and will compete at the State Competition in Fort Worth as well. Congratulations ladies!! Best of luck at State Competition March 29-30!

Thank you to all who attended the meeting! It was a great success and look forward to making our banquet experience a memorable event for our students. If you have questions about the banquet, please contact Melissa Schlattner at (903)780-1424 or camelot01@suddenlink.net

The Spring newsletter is available here.

Former REL band director Dick Highfill passed away December 29, 2007. Mr. Highfill was the director from 1974 to 1988. Mr. Highfill also taught at John Tyler High School, Moore Middle School and was instrumental in developing the music program at the University of Texas at Tyler. Mr. Highfill inspired many young musicians in the Tyler community, even educating some of our current REL band parents! The REL band will be honoring Mr. Highfill with several of his favorite works and composers at the annual spring concert.

Come learn how to spin and perform every Monday 5-7pm in the band hall.

Moore MST Magnet School has named Brain Persinger "Teacher of the Year." The band would like to say congratulations and thanks for all of your hard work!

Thanks to all students who participated in this year's Solo & Ensemble Contest at SFA! The REL Band took home a total of 79 medals.

Out of those that received a superior rating, 15 of them were soloist's who had their piece memorized. This means that these 15 will be competing at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble competition in May. These 15 are:

Rachel Oliver, Steven Lampton, Cheyenne Spell, Alex Baldwin, Keaton Ainsworth, Valencia Hartfield, Kevin Kelly, Michael Ketcham, Elizabeth Ortigo, Caleb Ketcham, Gabe Roberson, Chris Braswell, Jack Reagan, Travis Farmer, Andrea Gutierrez

We also had 8 ensembles make a superior rating as well. They will also be competing at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble competition in May. Congratulations!