Announcements

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!

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)

  1. 1. 1. 1. • 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.

BMS 8th Grade Band NMEA Performance:

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 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.

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. 

Jazz Band

Jazz Band rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, August 26th. Jazz Band rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting at 7:00 a.m. Students should enter the building through the North Annex door (door #10). Mrs. Koch will be at door #10 to let students in from 6:50 a.m. to 7:05 a.m. After 7:05 a.m., students will need to enter through the South main entrance.

2025-2026 Band Calendar:

The 2025-2026 Band Calendar is now available. Please scroll down to BMS Band Calendar box on this page and click on the link for the 2025-2026 BMS Band Calendar to access this calendar.