During quarter #1 our YHS Band students clocked over 300 periods of peer tutoring/extra-help sessions! Many thanks to our upperclassmen for your time and leadership – and congratulations to all involved on your dedication to the pursuit of excellence!
Peer tutoring is one of the best ways a band student can help themselves experience success. If you or your student would like more information on ways to participate, please contact Ms. Kluga.
Congratulations to the YHS Bands and Orchestras on a successful Citrus Sale! After a month of selling and a week of sorting through and tabulating orders (A HUGE THANK YOU to all the parent volunteers! We could not do this without your help!) the results are in. Thanks to all for your support!
CB Total Boxes Sold: 485 (461 boxes last year, 564 two years ago)
CB Total Pounds Sold: 10,560
CB Total Citrus Sold: $15,850 ($15,158 last year)
CB Total Profit: $6,230 ($5,699 last year)
WE Total Boxes Sold: 543 (588 boxes last year, 620 two years ago)
WE Total Pounds Sold: 11,800
WE Total Citrus Sold: $17,750 ($20,124 last year)
WE Total Profit: $6,985 ($7,555 last year)
85% of the funds generated from the Citrus Sale go directly into student personal accounts, toward their spring festival trip. 15% go into the band “general fund” and are used to pay for items that benefit all band students. Some examples include: chaperones for our festival trips (we can’t go on trips without chaperones, and are not allowed to roll chaperone fees into student costs) and band events. Funds generated from the Tag Sale and Swing Dance also benefit the band general fund. We are very fortunate to be able to provide these musical opportunities to our students, thanks for helping us do so!
The citrus delivery date is Monday 12/17. All students are required to pick up their ENTIRE order on this day. Please mark your calendars! WE ARE IN NEED OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS. Parent and student volunteers will be needed from 7:00 – 11:00am to help unload the trucks, and again from 2:00 – 7:00pm to help students assemble and pick up their orders. Please e-mail Ms. Kluga if you are available.
Six members of our band program represented YCSD this past week at the Westchester County School Music Association’s Area All State festival. Based on their spring 2018 NYSSMA scores, top music students from across Westchester are invited to participate in an honor band, orchestra, or choir. These ensembles are open to 10th-12th graders only, rehearse with an esteemed college music educator, and present a concert at SUNY Purchase. The concert took place this past Thursday. Congratulations to these YHS Band members on this fantastic musical achievement!
Justin Chee, Clarinet (11)
Paul Duffy, Bassoon (12)
James Ernst, Trumpet (12)
Alicia Menduni, Horn (10)
Ryan Onatzevitch, Trumpet (12)
Swaroop Pujari, Alto Sax (10)
On Friday 11/9, the YHS Jazz Band traveled to NYC to see the big band at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club. Ms. Kluga was so pleased with the whole experience for our students; the band was fabulous, and Mr. Childers, our new MESMS 7&8th grade band director, was a wonderful host. Mr. Childers plays sax in the Birdland band and introduced many of his fellow musicians to our students, which was a real treat! Thank you to our awesome parent chaperones for helping make this experience a success for our students!
Similar to NYSSMA, YHS Jazz Band students are eligible to audition for our Westchester All County Jazz Band. Being selected is an elite musical honor and a fantastic opportunity to perform with some of Westchester’s most talented student jazz musicians! Interested students should prepare a jazz NYSSMA solo, fill out an application and attend the audition. You do not need to improvise to audition. Please see Ms. Kluga for solo literature and an application. The audition date is Saturday 1/5. The application is DUE to Ms. Kluga by Friday, 12/14.
Application is available: AC-Jazz-Student-Application-2019
A reminder regarding our spring festival trip dates (which were outlined in the YHS Band Handbook back in September). Please make sure they are included on your family calendar.
CONCERT BAND: our festival trip is SAT. 5/11. 5am-10pm. Chaperones needed. Details to follow.
WIND ENSEMBLE: our festival trip is FRI 4/5 – SUN 4/7 2019. Details to follow.