Scottsbluff Public Schools - Every Child, Every Day
2025-2026 Announcements
Students Selected for Panhandle Middle School Honor Band:
Selected BMS 8th Grade Band students will participate in the Panhandle Middle School Honor Band on Saturday, March 21st hosted by Natalie Prokop at the Midwest Theatre. Students will rehearse throughout the day with clinician John Wojcik, retired Chadron State College Band Director and will present a Final Concert at 3:00 p.m. in the Midwest Theatre. This concert is FREE and Open to the Public.
Students participating are:
Amelia Burns (Flute)
Sakina Kader (Flute)
Makenzie Zwetzig (Flute)
Audrey Murray (Clarinet)
Nina Polk (Clarinet)
Reagan Schiff (Clarinet)
Kinley Richards (Bass Clarinet)
Jonah Klaas (Alto Sax)
Jo'Aubrey Fernandez (Bari Sax)
Jonas Harkins (Trumpet)
Adan Garcia (Trumpet)
Olivia Stedman (French Horn)
Micah De Los Santos (Trombone)
Elsie Harvey (Trombone)
Jeffrey McMurtry (Trombone)
Jonah Zavala (Tuba)
Rriel Harman (Percussion)
Kynlee Kaufman (Percussion)
"Music In Our Schools Month" Jazz Concert:
The Bluffs Middle School Jazz Band is busy preparing for our upcoming concert. We are planning a very special Concert celebrating March as Music In Our Schools Month. This concert will combine the Bluffs Middle School 7-8 Grade Jazz Band and the WNCC “Fire in the Pan” Swingers in a joint concert. At this concert, both groups will perform separately and then will combine and play several songs together. This should be a real treat for both audience and performers alike. It gives our middle school students a chance to hear and observe, as well as play with, more experienced players.
In order to combine the two groups together, we need to have a rehearsal together. This rehearsal will take place on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Judy Chaloupka Theater on the WNCC Campus. Please park in the EAST parking lot at WNCC and enter through the glass doors at the bottom of the stairs. This rehearsal should conclude by 7:30 p.m.
The concert will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Judy Chaloupka Theater on the WNCC Campus.
✔️Western Nebraska Middle Level Music Contest Results:
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, students from Bluffs Middle School had the opportunity to play and be adjudicated on their solos. This years judges were Michael Stephens (Woodwind professor from Chadron State College), John Wojcik (retired Brass professor from Chadron State College), and Stacey Sailors (band director from Minatare). They were judged on musical skills such as Articulation, Balance/Blend, Dynamics, Intonation, Note Accuracy, Rhythm Accuracy, Phrasing, Tone Quality, Technique, and Tempo. This Contest is designed to be a very positive learning experience for the students. The judges take the time to talk to each Soloist to offer encouragement and advice to help them improve as players. Student's performances are rated on the following scale:
Division I - Superior
Division II - Excellent
Division III - Good
Division IV - Fair
Division V - Unprepared
Bluffs Middle School students received the following ratings:
8th Grade Band Soloists - 25 Division I - Superior Ratings and 3 Division II - Excellent Ratings
7th Grade Band Soloists - 25 Division I - Superior Ratings, 3 Division II - Excellent Ratings, and 1 Good Rating
6th Grade Band Soloists - 19 Division I - Superior Ratings and 10 Division II - Excellent Ratings
BMS 7/8 Grade Woodwind Ensemble - Superior Rating
Congratulations to all who participated. We are very proud of all of you!
✔️22nd Annual Western NE Middle-Level Solo Contest:
At this contest, students will have the opportunity to perform a solo, of their choosing, for the judges. This Contest will be held at Bluffs Middle School on Saturday, February 28th. This Contest will be a very positive learning experience for the students. The judges will have the time to talk to each Soloist to offer encouragement and advice to help them improve as players. Hopefully this contest will give the students who attend more confidence in their playing abilities.
To cover the cost of judges and accompanists, there is a $10.00 (non-refundable) fee per solo event.
✔️Mid-Winter Concert: The BMS Mid-Winter Band Concert will take place on Friday, February 20th in the Auditorium at Scottsbluff High School. This concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Students should arrive at SHS at 6:30 p.m. Dress for this concert is nice dress clothes (we suggest a skirt or a dress for the girls and dress slacks, a dress shirt and tie for the boys). This is a graded performance and all students are expected to be in attendance. This concert is free and open to the public. Please invite family and friends to attend!
✔️Brass Ensemble & 8th Grade Choir to Perform at Papa Moon: The BMS Brass Ensemble & the 8th Grade Choir will perform at Papa Moon on Wednesday, December 17th at 5:00 p.m. Brass Ensemble Students should wear their BMS Band Shirt, jeans, & festive Christmas accessories. Please plan on arriving at 4:45 p.m. to prepare for the performance.
✔️Brass Ensemble & 8th Grade Choir to Perform at The Residency: The BMS Brass Ensemble & 8th Grade Choir will perform at The Residency on Tuesday, December 16th at 1:00 p.m. Students should wear festive Christmas attire and should plan on loading the bus at BMS at 12:45 p.m.
✔️Merry Tuba Christmas: Merry Tuba Christmas will take place on Saturday, December 13th. This event is open to all interested Tuba and Euphonium players in grade 7 and up. This is not a required event. There will be a rehearsal in the SHS Band Room beginning at 1:00 p.m. followed by a performance at "Uptown Scottsbluff" (Formerly Monument Mall) at 3:00 p.m. This performance is open to the public. If interested, students should see Mr. Koch for more information.
✔️Holiday Band Concert: The Bluffs Middle School Bands' Holiday Concert will be held on Friday, December 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium. Students should wear nice dress clothes for this performance. We would prefer that girls wear a skirt or a dress and that boys wear slacks, a dress shirt and tie or a sweater. No jeans or tennis shoes please. We encourage students to stay for the entire concert. Students should sit with their parents after their performance. Parents please save a seat by you for your student. This performance is free and open to the public, so please invite your family and friends to come hear some holiday music to help get in the spirit of the season.
✔️BMS 8th Grade Band Performs:
Congratulations to the BMS 8th Grade Band on their very fine performance for the 2025 Nebraska Music Education Association Convention on November 21st, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They played well and we are very proud of them.
The band was chosen by a committee, appointed by NMEA, from an audition recording submitted last spring. They are one of several ensembles (both vocal and instrumental) that were selected as NMEA Honor Groups.
We performed on Friday, November 21 from 4:15-5:00 p.m. (CST) on the stage of Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska -Lincoln campus.
We are excited to have received this honor. Our students have been working hard and we are pleased that their efforts and determination are being recognized.
This is the fourth time that the BMS Band has been selected to perform for the NMEA Convention. The others being in 2002, 2018, and 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
✔️8th Grade NSBA All-State Band Selected: Karlie Bruce, Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Middle Level Chair, announced the results of the NSBA 2026 8th Grade All State Band Auditions. There were 445 students from 47 schools who auditioned. Based on their recorded audition, the NSBA Honor Band committee selected 93 students and 23 alternates for the band. Bluffs Middle School had 20 students complete the audition and 14 students were selected to be members of this prestigious group of young musicians.
Students from Bluffs Middle School have participated in the NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band for the past 25 years and we are pleased to add the following names to the list of those selected:
Amelia Burns (Alternate Flute) - Parents, Joshua & Jennifer Burns
Audrey Murray (Clarinet) - Parents, Emily Murray
Reagan Schiff (Alternate Clarinet) - Parents, Scott & Kristin Schiff
Kinley Richards (Alternate Bass Clarinet) - Parents, Joni Richards
Jonah Klaas (Alto Saxophone) - Parents, Stephen Klaas & Tara Longoria
Jo'Aubrey Fernandez (Bari Saxophone) - Parents, Lauren Esquivel
Micah De Los Santos (Trombone) - Parents, Matthew & Ashley De Los Santos
Jackson Green (Trombone) - Parents, Nathan & Kelli Green
Jeffrey McMurtry (Trombone) - Parents, Jeffrey & Tiffany McMurtry
Havynn Urdiales (Trombone) - Parents, Martin & Jennifer Urdiales
Sean Kabugo (Euphonium) - Parents, Connie Kabugo
Jonah Zavala (Tuba) - Parents, Mario & Jordyn Zavala
Rriel Harman (Percussion) - Parents, Tim & Ashley Harman
Kynlee Kaufman (1st Chair - Percussion) - Parents, Tony & Libby Kaufman
These students will travel to Kearney in January to rehearse and perform with the other members of the honor band. Congratulations to those students who were selected and to all those who auditioned.
✔️Veteran's Day Parade: The 7th and 8th Grade Marching Band will be performing for the Veteran's Day Parade on Tuesday, November 11th. This parade will take place at 11:00 a.m. on East Overland from 19th Avenue to 3rd Avenue. Students should wear their marching uniform (Red Band Polo, Black Pants, Black Socks, and Black Shoes). ROTC students may wear their ROTC uniform if they choose.
✔️Band Concert Date Change:
Due to a conflict that is outside of my control, the December BMS Band Concert that was scheduled for Friday, December 12th will be moved to Friday, December 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium. I am very sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause. (Information updated on Thursday, October 16th)
✔️Old West Weekend Parade Results: Congratulations to the 7th and 8th Grade Band for their performance at the Old West Weekend Parade on Saturday, October 18th. The students were judged on their playing skills (Tone Quality, Intonation, Rhythmic Precision, Articulation, Balance, and Interpretation) and their marching skills (Rank Alignment, File Alignment, Posture, Uniform Instrument Position, Uniform Step Style, and Players In Step). The BMS Band received a Division 1 - SUPERIOR Rating from the judges. We are very proud of their performance and happy to see all of their hard work pay off. Their next performance will be for the Veteran's Day Parade on Tuesday, November 11th at 11 a.m. on East Overland.
✔️Old West Weekend Parade: The 7th & 8th Grade Marching Band will perform in the Old West Weekend Parade on Saturday, October 18. The students will need to meet at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Lincoln House Building (1st Ave. and 15th Street). Students need to wear their Red Band shirt, Black pants, Black socks and Black shoes. The parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. The BMS Marching Band will be the first Band in the parade. Students are encouraged to watch the remainder of the parade and to attend the field competition to cheer on our high school Band. The field competition begins at 2:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium. Students will receive FREE entry into the stadium for the field competition if they are wearing their Band shirt. The parade/field competition awards will be at 3:35 p.m. in Bearcat stadium. This is a required performance and we need all students in attendance to perform at our best.
✔️8th Grade All-State Auditions: The deadline for submitting audition recordings for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association 8th Grade All-State Band is October 11th. Students who are auditioning for this ensemble will need to make their audition recordings beginning Oct. 1st - Oct. 10th. Please sign-up to record your audition on the yellow paper on the Band office window.
✔️Jazz Band Concert: The Bluffs Middle School Jazz Band will perform our "Fall Blast" Concert on Thursday, October 9 in the BMS Cafetorium. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Students should arrive at 6:30 p.m. in order to prepare for their performance. Students should wear nice dress clothes for this performance. This concert is free and open to the public. Please invite your family and friends to attend!
✔️Homecoming Parade:
The BMS 7/8 Grade Marching Band will perform for the Homecoming Parade on Monday, October 6th at 6:00 p.m. Students should meet at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Lincoln House Building (1st Ave. and 15th Street) with their instruments and in uniform (Band Polo Shirt, Black Pants, Black Socks, Black Shoes). The parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. and proceed from South Broadway to the Middle School. Following their parade performance, the students are free to leave with their parents.
Volleyball players: If you are able to do both your games and the parade, please join us as soon as you are able to. If you are unable to attend due to your games, you will be excused from this performance. Good Luck at your games!
JROTC students: you are expected to perform with the band for the parade. You may wear your ROTC uniform if you would like.
✔️7th & 8th Grade Red Band Shirt Orders: The BMS Band Shirts will need to be purchased by each student for $25 (unless you still have one from last year). Please make checks payable to BMS Band and return to Mr. Koch no later that Friday, September 5th.
Reminder: The BMS Band Shirts are available in ADULT sizes ONLY.
✔️BMS 8th Grade Band Selected To Perform:
Angela Wright, NMEA President-Elect, is very PROUD to announce that the Bluffs Middle School 8th Grade Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael A. Koch, has been selected as one of the performing groups for the 2025 Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention this November 20-22, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The band was chosen by a committee, appointed by NMEA, from an audition recording submitted last spring. They are one of several ensembles (both vocal and instrumental) that have been selected as NMEA Honor Groups.
We will be performing on Friday, November 21 from 4:15-5:00 p.m. (CST) on the stage of Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska -Lincoln campus. Please know that parents/family are WELCOME and encouraged to attend. More specific details will be available as this date gets closer.
We are excited to have received this honor. Our students have been working hard and we are pleased that their efforts and determination are being recognized.
This is the fourth time that the BMS Band has been selected to perform for the NMEA Convention. The others being in 2002, 2018, and 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
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2024-2025 Announcements
✔️Brass Ensemble & Jazz Band to Perform at Papa Moon: The BMS Brass Ensemble & Jazz Band will perform at Papa Moon on Thursday, May 15th at 5:00 p.m. (Students should wear their red Band Polo & Jeans and should plan on arriving at 4:00 p.m. to help set up and prepare for the performance.)
✔️BMS 8th Grade Band - Music in the Parks Festival Results -
The Bluffs Middle School 8th Grade Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael A. Koch, participated in the 2025 Music in the Parks Festival held on Saturday, May 10th.
The Band performed at Drake Middle School in Arvada, Colorado. The Band was adjudicated by two judges on tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality. They performed two pieces for the judges: "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite by Karl King (Arr. by Larry Kerchner) and "Choose Joy" by Randall Standridge.
The Band received a SUPERIOR Rating from both judges (receiving an average of 98 out of 100 points) and the First Place Trophy for Class A schools. The Band also competed against schools of all size classifications for the Best Overall Band. The BMS 8th Grade Band received the highest score and the Trophy for "Best Overall Jr. High/Middle School Band" at the festival.
This is the 20th year that the BMS 8th Grade Bands have participated at the festival.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We are so PROUD of your efforts and accomplishments.
✔️"Music In The Parks" Festival:
On Saturday, May 10th, the 8th Grade Band will be traveling to the Denver area to perform for the "Music In The Parks" Festival. The students will perform in the morning at Drake Middle School in Arvada, CO. Following our performance, the students will then travel to Elitch Gardens and have some time to enjoy themselves at the amusement park. More details will be made available as we get closer to the date of this trip. This is a wonderful educational opportunity for the students as they will be judged by nationally known adjudicators and will receive comments that will help them improve in the future, as well as a rating/trophy
This will be a one day trip. We will leave early on the morning of May 10th, perform for the festival, enjoy some time in the park, and then return home.
Because this is a competition and a required graded performance, we would like every student in 8th grade band to participate in this festival. We need every member to be in attendance for us to perform at our best. There is no cost to the students for this trip except for money for their evening meal on the way home (fast food stop). The festival fees, park entrance fees, lunch, T-Shirt, and transportation will all be provided through our fundraising efforts.
Parents and other family members are welcome to travel to the festival to watch our performance. We would really appreciate the support. More information will be provided soon on the exact time and location of our performance.
✔️Up-Coming Spring Band Concerts:
The BMS Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble along with the SHS Jazz Band & Percussion Ensemble will present their combined Spring Concert on Friday, May 2nd in the Auditorium at Scottsbluff High School. This concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Dress for this concert is nice dress clothes (we suggest a skirt or a dress for the girls and dress slacks, a dress shirt and tie for the boys).
The SBPS Grade 5-8 Spring Band Concert will take place on Friday, May 10th in the Auditorium at Scottsbluff High School. This concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. Dress for this concert is nice dress clothes (we suggest a skirt or a dress for the girls and dress slacks, a dress shirt and tie for the boys). This is a graded performance and all students are expected to be in attendance.
Both Concerts are free and open to the public. Please invite your family and friends to attend!
✔️BMS Band Director, Mr. Michael A. Koch, Inducted into NMEA "Hall of Fame": Mr. Koch was inducted into the Nebraska Music Education Association's "Music Educators Hall of Fame" at the annual awards banquet on November 21st. He was honored for his Outstanding Service to the Young People of Nebraska, for Personal Musicianship of the Highest Order, and Exemplary Teaching Accomplishments. He joins previous Scottsbluff Band and Choir Directors, Georgene Diers (1985), Gerald L. Bacon (1994), and L. Dean Maxwell (1998) who are also members of this distinguished group of educators. Congratulations, Mr. Koch!