The PBMS music program involves upwards of 210 middle school students in one of six instrumental ensembles: 6th Grade Strings, 6th Grade Band, Intermediate Strings, Intermediate Band, Orchestra, and Concert Band. The PBMS music program builds on the music traditions of Crown Point Junior Music Academy, Pacific Beach Elementary School, and Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School, and provides all students with the opportunity to explore music prior to high school. The beginning band and strings classes develop new musicians while the advanced band and orchestra students step out into the community with performances throughout the year and compete with other middle and high school music programs.

Mr. O'Donnell joined Pacific Beach Middle school in the fall of 2009 and has grown the program into one of the leading music programs in San Diego. He led the 2017 band and orchestra groups to gold medals and was named a San Diego Unified 2017 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year.