newsletter
january 11, 2026

Weekly Newsletter - january 11, 2026

Sent 1/11/2026 7:50 PM

I hope everyone is settling back into their school groove.  This week is All-State week, so I want to wish all those students well in their experiences this week, and I look forward to hearing you play on Saturday.

Here is what I have for you this week.

What's in this newsletter?

Here's what I have for you all this week:

• Yearbook Senior Pages - It's time for senior families to get their senior pages into Mrs. Whiston.

• A word from Mr. Sayre - As always, make sure to read this

This week in band...

Wednesday 1/14

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Winter Guard Class

Thursday 1/15

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Percussion Class

Now on to the details...

Yearbook Senior Pages

If you are the parent of a senior, you should have received communications from Mrs. Whiston, our yearbooks chair, this week.  That email contains all the instructions you need to follow to get those special pages into our yearbook this year.  There is time - as these are firmly due by March 23rd - but the earlier you can get that information to her, the better.

If you did not receive this communication, but have a senior in the program, please reach out to her at yearbooks@eldorado.band.

Go Eagles!

JD

a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagle Band Community!

We are off to a great start to the semester. Thank you to our students for the strong focus and productive rehearsals last week. We are well underway in our preparation for the Albuquerque Jazz Festival, which will bring over 900 performers to the Eldorado High School campus February 12–14. This is the largest festival of its kind in New Mexico and one of the largest in the Southwest. Stay tuned for more information about how you can help volunteer at the event.  Student leaders and Jazz students will be able to sign up first.  

Here is what is going on this week:

Concert All-State

This week is the Concert All-State Conference.

• Students must arrange their own transportation to UNM

• Students must be in their assigned rehearsal space by 3:30 PM

• Each day, students will meet with Mr. Sayre in the lobby of Popejoy Hall before leaving for the day

• Performances take place on Saturday

• Exact performance times are posted on the NMMEA website

Concert All-State Percussion

Eldorado is providing a significant portion of the percussion equipment for the conference.

• Loading will take place Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning

• Percussion students involved should plan accordingly and be ready to assist

Jazz All-State

• We will depart on the charter bus Thursday, January 22 at approximately 10:00 AM 

• Students should bring money for meals

• Performances are on Saturday at the Eastern New Mexico University Music Department

Electives Expo & Color Guard Recruitment

Our annual Electives Expo takes place on Monday.

Students can help us recruit the largest Color Guard we’ve ever had:

• Encourage friends or family to check out Color Guard

• Recruiting a student earns extra lettering points and a candy bar from Mr. Sayre

• If a recruited student commits to Color Guard next fall, additional lettering points will be awarded next year

This Week’s Schedule

Monday

• Normal Zero Hour schedule

• Electives Expo — recruit future Eagle Band members

Tuesday

• Normal rehearsal schedule

• Load percussion equipment onto the truck

Wednesday

• Normal Zero Hour rehearsal

• Load percussion equipment in the morning

• Color Guard Class in the afternoon

• Concert All-State participants meet at UNM Music Department before 3:30 PM

Thursday

• No Zero Hour

• All other classes: sectionals

• Upload sectional recordings to Google Classroom

• Percussion Class after school

Friday

• No Zero Hour

• All other classes: sectionals

• Upload sectional recordings to Google Classroom

Off to a great start!  Keep up the progress!

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre