Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,
Our Spring Concert is this Tuesday 5/12 at 7pm. Please read on for important information. The students and I look forward to performing for you!
Happy Mother’s Day to you and your families! I hope that you enjoyed the day together.
CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL CONGRATS & THANKS!!
Congratulations to the Concert Band for earning the rating of “SUPERIOR” at Saturday’s Music Festival! What a fun day we had together – I am so proud of the students for their performance both on and off the concert stage!
First, at the YHS Music Festival, our Choir, Orchestra, and Concerts Band each played before a panel of college music educators who adjudicated our performance. The students were focused and worked so hard to play their best! Then, the judges joined us on stage for a clinic. Each judge offered positive comments, constructive feedback, and praised the students on their coachability. At the end of their clinic, each ensemble had made audible improvements to their musicality. Bravo on a wonderful performance and experience!
It was a pleasure spending the day with your students! I always love watching the camaraderie that is developed as the students work as a team at the festival, cheer together as they receive their award, enjoy a rollercoaster, and play a few games at the arcade – these are the kind of moments that really help unite and build a strong music program.
Thank you all so much for your help and support! Special thanks to families that were able to send in cases of water and snacks – they were very appreciated!!
Extra special thanks to Ms. Picinich, Mr. and Mrs. Allison, and Mrs. Tobey for chaperoning our trip. We so appreciate your time!
CONCERT GRAND FINALE REHEARSAL ~ MONDAY 5/11, p.9
Reminder – All Concert Band and Wind Ensemble students are needed for this rehearsal. We will use the auditorium to practice the logistics for our Spring Concert grand finale.
MAY LESSON CALENDAR ATTACHED
FYI
SENIOR DINNER
Thanks for RSVPing! Join us at 4:30pm on Tuesday 5/12 (before our concert) at Little Sorrento. I’m looking forward to celebrating you and your 4 years in our YHS Band program!
SPRING BAND CONCERT ~ TUESDAY 5/12 @ 7:00pm in the YHS Auditorium
* Students are asked to arrive by 6:30 to warm up.
* Jazz Band students are asked to be ready to play by 5:45 for our soundcheck.
CONCERT DRESS
A reminder of our concert dress requirements as outlined in the Band Handbook. We call it “Concert Black.” Our goal is to look unified and professional.
· Black dress pants or long black skirt. Long means that the skirt falls below the knee. (no black jeans/jeggings/tights/yoga pants)
· Black professional blouse/button-down top. No sleeveless shirts, spaghetti straps, or crop tops. Please make sure the neckline is appropriate.
· Black Dress Shoes/socks/stockings
Jazz Band Students: add a white tie
CONCERT RECEPTION – PARENT HELP NEEDED
To celebrate our students’ performance and our seniors’ last concert, we will host a reception in the cafeteria.
To volunteer your time, or donate an item, please check out our SignUp Genius.
Your donations are always so appreciated! Thank you to Mrs. Rindone for creating and managing the SignUp!
YHS BAND SPRING DATE REMINDERS
Please mark your calendars!
5/12 (Tues) @7pm YHS Spring Band Concert
5/25 (Mon) @10am Memorial Day Parade and Annual YHS Band BBQ
5/29 (Fri) @ 7:15pm Jazz Band performs at Relay for Life (Evening)
5/29-30 (Fri-Sat) Up-County NYSSMA Solo Festival @ Somers HS
6/25 (Thurs) 6:30pm Graduation (Wind Ensemble 26-27 students will perform)
YHS BAND YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE
Created by our Band Officers, the yearbook is professionally printed, and contains photos and captions of our many Band events throughout the year.
The cost is $37 each (check made payable to YHS Music Boosters). If your student is interested, a sign-up sheet is available in the band room. This is not a fundraiser; the books are sold at cost.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE & BBQ MON. 5/25
The parade march is our most public event of the year and is an important service for our Yorktown community. All YHS Band students are required to participate. Contact me with questions.
Date: Monday, May 26, 2025
Time/Place: Yorktown TOWN HALL. Please arrive promptly by 10:30am.
Dress: YHS Band Polo, black pants, black shoes, black socks
BRING: Your lyre, charged cell phone, back up charger, and instrument.
After our parade performance, all YHS Band students are invited to the 21st annual YHS Band Memorial Day BBQ at the Grabowski home. (Many thanks to the Grabowski family for opening their home to us!) A sign-up sheet and information on how to contribute to this event will be available in the coming weeks.
GRADUATION BAND – THURS. 6/25
The YHS Band has been asked to perform at the 2026 YHS Graduation. Students of the 2026-2027 Wind Ensemble are asked to play. (If you are not in next year’s WE, but are a sibling of a graduating senior and would like to save your family a ticket, you are also welcome to join us!)
The 2026 graduates, and our entire learning community, truly appreciate your time and talents!
Who: Students in the ’26-‘27 Wind Ensemble and/or siblings of graduating seniors.
What: Provide graduation music for the seniors of YHS!!
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Place: YHS Stadium
Time: Arrive at the YHS band room by 5:30 PM. Ceremony is at 6:30PM
Attire: Please dress “nicely” (no jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers).
Bring: Your music, your instrument and water.
Students who perform at the graduation are eligible for 3 community service hours.
A FEW UPDATES FROM THE FIRST NIGHTERS
This awesome parent organization is always hard at work behind the scenes, volunteering their time and creativity to highlight our Performing Arts students and programs! Thank you!!
SENIOR POSTERS
Similar to our varsity sports, each Performing Arts senior will be honored with a poster featuring their photo and instrument. Posters will be displayed near the auditorium and families are encouraged to take photos after their concert performances.
SAVE THE DATE – SENIOR CELEBRATION – THURS. JUNE 11th 4-6
The First Nighters will be hosting a senior celebration at the Yorktown Community Center. Stay tuned for more details!
MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES
Flyers are attached for your review and listed below. Some interesting musical opportunities for our students!
· Bennett Conservatory – Summer Jazz Institute
· Summer Music Camps
· Jazz Forum – Westchester’s premier Jazz club, located in Tarrytown, NY. Free tickets for students – use the code STFREE at checkout to redeem the tickets at www.jazzforumarts.org/events.
Please contact me with any questions and thank you for your help and support! The students and I look forward to performing for you this Tuesday at our Spring Concert!
Ms. Kluga
Emily Kluga
Band Director
Yorktown High School
2727 Crompond Rd.
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
(914) 243-8050 x.22249
X and Instagram: @MsKluga and @yhsbands