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Pride of Cordell Marching Band
On March 29th the Cordell High School band had the honor of achieving the most prestigious award offered to bands in Oklahoma through the OSSAA “Sweepstakes.” The award is a multi-step process in which the competing band must earn a superior rating at the OSSAA Regional Marching Contest, District Concert Band Contest, and State Concert Band Contest. It is only given to those bands that receive an overall Superior rating from all contests, including the sightreading portion of the state competition.
The Blue Devil Band received superior ratings in all contests, allowing them to obtain such a distinction.
According to Cordell Band Director Aaron Edge, “For the 20232024 school year, only two bands in class 2A earned this award, including your very own Blue Devil Band. The Sweepstakes award is the ultimate goal for high school bands all across the state .”
While this achievement is a testament to the months of relentless work these students put in, it’s just the beginning. They are already setting their sights on future goals, demonstrating their unwavering dedication and perseverance. We can’t wait to see what they’ll accomplish next.
Cordell will have twelve students go to the state OSSA solo/ ensemble competition at OSU during April. The jazz band will compete at the State Jazz Contest, with the possibility of achieving the Super Sweepstakes Award, “Sweepstakes with Accent.”
Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium, where you can experience the talent of the Pride of Cordell firsthand. And get ready to cheer them on as they take the stage at The Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, May 21, to perform their award-winning selections for all of Nashville, Tennessee, to hear.
“I cannot explain in words how amazing these kids are and how proud I am to be their teacher. They create amazing music together, but more importantly, they create an amazing town, state, country, and world. The future is better with these students, and I can’t stop thinking about all they will accomplish. They truly do make the world a better place, and I’m so happy to be a small part of it,” expressed Edge with heartfelt pride.
The community at large has been buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the band’s upcoming accomplishments, eagerly looking forward to the next chapter in their musical journey .