Nimitz Middle School Honor Band from Odessa, TX to Perform at Prestigious Music for All National Festival

The Nimitz Middle School Honor Band will join 45 invited ensembles from across America in Indianapolis, March 21-23

The Nimitz Middle School Honor Band has been selected to perform at the 2024 Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, in Indianapolis, March 21-23, 2024. The Nimitz Middle School Honor Band, under the direction of Jordan Freeman, Taryn Mcmillan, and Channing Freeman were selected following a rigorous application and audition process.

The Music for All National Festival will feature high school and middle school ensembles from across the country, considered the nation’s premier non-competitive festival for scholastic instrumental music ensembles. Student musicians perform at top venues, receiving evaluation and feedback from a panel of renowned conductors and clinicians, and participate in educational workshops. Invited ensembles include high school and middle school concert bands, orchestras, percussion ensembles, and chamber ensembles, all who have achieved the highest level of scholastic excellence.

The band program is the largest organization on campus serving 265 students. All band students begin the sixth grade in homogenous classes learning how to play their instrument. In seventh and eighth grade they are split up into three separate performing groups, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Honor Band. Prior to 2015 the Nimitz Junior High Band has consistently earned top honors at UIL competition, been selected TMEA Honor Band twice, once in 1996 and again in 2004 under the direction of Cindy Bulloch. In 1997 the Nimitz Junior High Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Cup administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Since the transition to middle school in 2015, the Nimitz Middle School Band has consistently earned top honors at UIL competition and festivals, been named Commended Winners in 2022 and National Winners in 2019 and 2023 in the Mark of Excellence Project as well as placing 14th in the State Honor Band contest in San Antonio in 2019 and a semifinalist in 2023.

Since 1975, Music for All has been a destination and set the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance and music education advocacy. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, Music for All’s mission is to create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. Music for All’s events include Bands of America Championships for marching bands, summer camps for students and teachers, and the Advocacy in Action Awards.

Music for All serves more than 600,000 student musicians, teachers, families, and supporters annually through its events and programs held across America, and its webinars, podcasts, and online resources.