Last week, 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 in October, District Concert Band Contest in March, and State Concert Band Contest. It is only given to those bands that receive an overall Superior rating from all contests, including the sig htreading portion of the state competition.
The Blue Devil Band received superior ratings in all contests, allowing them to obtain such a distinction. Cordell competed as 3A band this year. This level is more competitive than the previous 2A ranking, due to the size of the schools and number of band members in the category. As one of the smallest 3A schools in Oklahoma, Cordell has a bigger and more successful band program than larger schools, which is definitely something to be proud of achieving!
Twenty-nine 3A bands qualified for state this year and only four received Superior ratings. Of those four only two received the Sweepstakes award, one of which was Corde ll.
According to Cordell Band Director Aaron Edge, “The (Sweepstakes) award is given to bands who achieve excellence in their music, but more importantly, it awards consistency. Many bands miss it due to one little slip, and you must work constantly towards the next goal from July all the way to April without stopping. Next, we’ll compete at Jazz State Contest on April 28th and see what else we can do!”
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.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 3rd, at 3:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium, where you can experience the talent of the Pride of Cordell firsthand.
“Teaching this group just makes me have a constant ear-to-ear grin!” 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.