Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,
As promised, May is packed with Band events! As we continue to smile about this week’s beautiful Spring Concert (bravo!!), please read on for end-of-year reminders and updates about Memorial Day.
SPRING CONCERT CONGRATS & THANKS!
Bravo to our students on a beautiful (and fun!) spring concert performance! I am so proud of this year’s musical journey and our students’ growth in musicianship, citizenship, and friendship!
Thank you so much to Ms. Rindone for organizing our reception, and to all who donated food items or their valuable time. Special thanks to senior Ichiro Iizuka for the beautiful and delicious homemade sheet cake celebrating our seniors!
What a lovely celebration of our students’ performance, and our seniors’ final YCSD Band concert!
LIVE STREAM LINK
Just so you have everything in one place – here is the link.
YEAR IN REVIEW
If you are interested, here is the link to our Year in Review video.
YHS BAND SPRING DATE REMINDERS
Please mark your calendars! The list is getting shorter and shorter…
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 HOME-RENTAL INSTRUMENTS DUE BY WEDNESDAY 5/20 (MORNING)
If you have an instrument at home that you rented from YHS, please bring it to school by Wednesday Morning 5/20. The instruments will be picked up at that time for cleaning and maintenance.
BAND OFFICER APPLICATIONS DUE WED. 5/20
Are you interested in serving on the ’26-’27 YHS Band Executive Board? Applications and job descriptions are available in the Band Room.
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 $40 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 25, 2026
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. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CASE IN YOUR CAR. *PLEASE EAT BREAKFAST, WEAR SUNSCREEN, AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!!!*
**If your family will be out of town, and your student is unable to march, please e-mail me ASAP so that I can plan our logistics**
REMINDERS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
- We are performing an important service for our Yorktown Community.
- Behave with respect and pride at all times – we are honoring those who have given their lives for our freedom.
BAND BBQ #21!
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!)
Students, please sign-up in the Band Room by this Thursday 5/21 so we can get an idea of how many people the Grabowski’s should expect.
PARADE & BBQ DONATIONS NEEDED
Volunteers and food donations are needed, please, for our parade march and BBQ. Click here to access the SignUp Genius and to view BBQ details. Thank you to Ms. Rindone for creating the SUG!
NYSSMA SOLO FESTIVAL FRI-SAT 5/29-30
Official playing permits were distributed last week in class.
You have 11 days until your audition. Your daily job is to: do a good warm-up, practice scales/rudiments/sight reading factory, and practice running your solo from top to bottom. You will be glad you did!
I am available for NYSSMA practice sessions!! Please stop by to make an appointment.
REMINDER: Make sure you have purchased an original of your music to bring with you to your audition. (Ms. Kluga has a limited number of originals that you can borrow – first come first served).
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 is 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!
· Summer Jazz Intensive at SUNY Purchase
· Bennett Conservatory – Summer Jazz Institute
· 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.
Congratulations on an inspiring week of music and thank you all for your support!
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