Welcome to the YHS Bands!

A character education program within itself, the YHS Band experience is centered around three key components: musicianship, citizenship, and friendship. Through these, and the magic of music making, we strive to build community and musical excellence!

MUSICIANSHIP

We take great pride in our tradition of musical excellence and service! Daily classes include Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and weekly pull-out lessons. Jazz Band rehearses one evening a week, with a weekly sectional. Pep Band fires up the crowd at Varsity Football games, and Chamber ensembles rehearse after school. Major ensembles compete in regional festivals, and students shine at the NYSSMA Solo Festival. Highlights include our Winter and Spring Concerts; the Swing Dance Concert (students explore Jazz, improvisation, musical icons, and the pop culture of the Swing Era, learn to dance, and present a full community Swing Dance!); “Bandapalooza” (our district-wide band festival); and musical enrichment with local clinicians.

CITIZENSHIP

A pillar of the YHS Band program is character education; finding ways to make our community better through musical outreach, peer-leadership, and expressing gratitude are all lessons learned in the YHS Band Room. Highlights include: musically honoring our Veterans and First Responders, visiting with local nursing homes and children with special needs, hosting our community at our Swing Dance Concert, hosting 500+ students at our annual district-wide band festival, supporting our music programs through community fundraisers, using part of our fundraising to sponsor a needy child at holiday time, fostering a strong peer-tutoring program and a very active student executive board.

FRIENDSHIP

We strive to create a welcoming and supportive community for all students! Through team-building activities, social events, and the shared joy of making music together, we cultivate a true sense of Family within the Band and across our Music Department. Students form friendships, build leadership skills, and learn teamwork, dedication, and school spirit. Highlights include annual apple picking and ice skating outings, pep rallies, and celebrations. We also strengthen connections through mentoring and shared traditions that keep our community close-knit. Above all, we celebrate the countless “bandtastic” memories that make our program a place where everyone belongs and feels proud to share their talents!

YHS BANDS UPDATE #14

Dec 8, 2025

Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,

It’s concert/citrus week! Read on for your weekly update and Winter Concert and Citrus Delivery Day info.

WINTER CONCERT – TUESDAY 12/9 – REMINDERS

§  Our YHS Band Winter Concert will take place Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm in the YHS auditorium. Students will be asked to arrive by 6:30pm (Jazz Band at 5:45pm) for sound check.

§  Students are asked to wear “Concert Black,” which is all black professional, dressy attire.

o   Ladies: Black dressy shirt. No sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps. Appropriate necklines, please. Black dressy pants or skirt (below the knee when you sit down) and black dress shoes.

o   Gentlemen: Black dressy button-down long-sleeved shirt with a collar. Black dress pants. Black dress shoes. Black socks.

o   Jazz Band: We will wear concert black with a crazy tie.

§  Concert Reception – Parent help needed, please

o   To celebrate our students’ performance, we will host a reception in the cafeteria.  

o   Please visit our SignUp Genius for ways you can help. Your donations are always appreciated! Thank you to Ms. Rindone for managing our SUG!

STUDENTS – CONCERT HELP IS NEEDED

Citizenship! Help is needed on Monday and Tuesday folding programs and decorating the stage. Please stop by during your lunch, study hall, or free periods. Extra credit!

CONCERT LIVE STREAM LINK – YHS Band

YHS Band Winter Concert Livestream Link

CITRUS DELIVERY ~ THURSDAY 12/11

Your student is responsible for picking up their entire order on Friday 12/11 between 2:30 and 6:30pm at YHS, and then delivering to their customers.

STUDENTS & PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Student and parent volunteers are needed, please, to make this day run smoothly. Our citrus truck will arrive at 7am to be unloaded, we will spend the day stacking and organizing our 500+ boxes, and then distribute orders between 2:30-6:30pm.

Delivery day involves some tricky logistics, organization, (and always snacks!)! Please consider donating your time and/or supplies.

Parents, check out the SignUp Genius for ways you can help (thank you again to Ms. Rindone for creating and managing the signup!)

Students, please sign up in the Band Room.

CITRUS SALE – USPS ORDERS STILL OPEN UNTIL SAT. 12/13!

Thank you for supporting our sale!  The Ship to Organization orders are now closed. The Ship to Recipient option (delivered via USPS) is open until December 15th.

Use these links to send to family/friends/colleagues to help support our fundraiser:

YHS Concert Band online store: https://shop.floridaindianrivergroves.com/ecommerce/837673

YHS Wind Ensemble online store: https://shop.floridaindianrivergroves.com/ecommerce/498649

OPERATION SANTA
Each holiday season we are proud to participate in Operation Santa, using part of our band fundraising proceeds to purchase clothes and gifts for a needy child. Thank you to the Band Officers for purchasing and wrapping our gifts, and to the band families who so generously sent in additional items. Luna is a 6-year-old student in the Bronx, and we hope that she will have a very Merry Christmas!

HOLIDAY MUSIC SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT & LESSON SUGGESTIONS

Holiday time is the perfect opportunity to replenish musical accessories and plan for musical goals. Does your student need new reeds or valve oil? Is it time to upgrade from a beginner model to an intermediate model instrument? Does your student want to take their playing to the next level? Maybe it’s time to consider private lessons or look into a summer music camp opportunity.

I’m happy to help answer questions!

LOCAL MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES

Flyers are attached for your review and listed below. Some interesting musical opportunities for our students!

§  Sunday 12/14 is TubaChristmas in NYC! Some of our YHS Band tuba and euphonium students will be performing.

  • Mock Audition Day – Sunday 12/14 @ Queens College. A great opportunity for students who are planning to audition for college, NYSSMA, or want to improve in general.

The students and I are looking forward to performing for you this Tuesday 12/9 at 7pm for our Winter Band Concert!  Please contact me with any questions.

Musically Yours,

Ms. Kluga

Our Next Event:

YHS BAND: WINTER CONCERT

WINTER CONCERT REMINDERS Our YHS Band Winter Concert will take place Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm in the YHS auditorium. Students will be asked to...

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YHS Band Lesson Schedule - DECEMBER 25