Greetings. This is Mr. Andy Pizzo. I am the band director at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School. I run my program like a championship team: with the intent of always striving for excellence and producing the highest quality and best results possible.

I am a native of Metairie, LA, and received my B.M.E. from L.S.U. in the spring of 1999 and chose to stay in East Baton Rouge Parish to give back to my new community. I began my teaching career at McKinley Middle Magnet School, then went Southeast Middle School. Now, I am in my 5th year at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School. I am entering my 11th year of teaching and have found it very rewarding.

I am a professional educator as well as a professional performing musician. I am a professional trombonist and perform in various groups of many styles such as jazz, funk, pop/rock, latin, ect. In 2006, I released my debut c.d. on my own record label: O-ZIP Records, with my group, The Andy Pizzo Project. You can find copies of this c.d., "Bouncin", at www.cdbaby.com. I have also performed throughout the southeast U.S. in such cities as Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Jackson, MS; Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; etc. I have also performed in Las Vegas, NV, and New York City, New York. You can also check my personal website for my peforming schedule: www.andypizzo.com

** IMPORTANT DATES AND ITEMS OF INTEREST **

FESTIVAL RESULTS: INT., ADV., AND JAZZ BANDS

CONGRATS to all of our festival bands: Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz! WOW, we have been successful! Here are our results:

LOYOLA JAZZ FEST (JAZZ BAND)

Sweepstakes (all superior ratings)

Outstanding Jazz Soloists/Performers were Kaelin Lemiux, Dexter Turner, Caroline Samuels, and Amber Lassiter

DISTRICT IV LARGE ENSEMBLE BAND FESTIVAL

(Intermediate and Advanced Bands)

BOTH bands received sweepstakes (all superior ratings)

L.A.J.E./N.S.U. JAZZ FESTIVAL (JAZZ BAND)

Sweepstakes (all superior ratings).

Oustanding Jazz Soloist - Ari Saravia

ALL Trophies and Plaques are in the front office of the school for viewing this week.

FINAL Band Trip Meeting: Tues. Apr. 13 @ 6:30pm

This will be the final trip meeting and all final instructions will be given. This will be the opportunity to meet the chaperone for each student, to turn in any medications that are needed to be given to the nurse, and the final chance to turn in any discipline and/or medical forms. This meeting is mandatory for all band trip students and at least one of their parents.

FINAL BAND TRIP PAYMENT INFO

All final band trip payments are past due at this time. If you haven't paid up in full as of yet, please contact Mr. Pizzo.

AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

(all rehearsals are from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.)

MARCH

* Mon. Mar. 15 = Jazz Band (cancelled)

* Tues. Mar. 16 = Int. Band (cancelled)

* Thurs. Mar. 18 = Adv. Band (cancelled)

* I cancelled these rehearsals to give the students a much needed break due to their recent success at festival competition!

* Mon. Mar. 22 = Jazz Band

* Tues. Mar. 23 = Int. Band

* Thurs. Mar. 25 = Adv. Band

APRIL

* Tues. Apr. 6 = Int. Band

* Wed. Apr. 7 = Jazz Band

* Thurs. Apr. 8 = Adv. Band

* Mon. Apr. 12 = Int. Band WW Sectional

* Tues. Apr. 13 = Adv. Band WW Sectional

* Tues. Apr. 13 = Final Band Trip Meeting

@ Band Room at 6:30p.m.

(all parents, chaperones, and participants must

be present at this meeting)

* Wed. Apr. 14 = Int. Band Brass and Percussion

* Thurs. Apr. 15 = Adv. Band Brass and Perc.

* Mon. Apr. 19 = Adv. Band

* Tues. Apr. 20 = Int. Band

* Wed. Apr. 28 = Beg. Band

* Thurs. Apr. 29 = Jazz Band

MAY

* Mon. May 3 = Jazz Band

* Tues. May 4 = Adv. Band

* Wed. May 5 = Beg. Band

* Thurs. May 6 = Int. Band

* Mon. May 10 = Jazz Band

* Tues. May 11 = Spring Concert and Awards

(This will be in the gym and start at 6p.m.)