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 BAND UPDATE #3

Sep 21, 2026

Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,

Here we are, rolling through September!  It’s been such a treat to work with your students and so exciting to start to hear their musical progress. Awesome stuff!

A reminder that our Homecoming performance is this Friday evening, 9/25 – all YHS Band students are required to perform.

Read on for your weekly update from YHS Band Land!

EVENTS THIS WEEK

SEPTEMBER LESSON SCHEDULE

See attached. Wind Ensemble students are group 1, Concert Band students are group 2.

GUIDED PRACTICE SESSIONS

Guided practice sessions are offered weekly and hosted by our upperclassmen band members (thank you!). Students who lead or attend a session receive 1 point of extra credit. Sessions are held period 9, unless noted otherwise. I am also always available for help by appointment.

Monday 9/21Yom Kippur
Tuesday 9/22Flute p.4, Tuba p.9, Sax p.9
Wednesday 9/23Oboe p.9, Trombone p.9
Thursday 9/24Horn p.9, Trombone p.9, Flute p.9
Friday 9/25Trumpet p.9

JAZZ BAND BEGINS – THURSDAY 9/24

Let’s have a great first rehearsal!

·      Arrive by 6:50 so we can be warmed up and tuned to start promptly at 7:00

·      Prepare beforehand – your music, recordings and HW assignment are posted on Dashboard

·      Bring your signed Jazz Band calendar

My apologies regarding the delay in rhythm section audition results. There are some extenuating circumstances and I thank you for your patience. I will try my best to get things squared away this week.

HOMECOMING GAME ~ FRI. 9/25 ~ ALL BAND STUDENTS REQUIRED TO PERFORM

As outlined in the Band Handbook, we look forward to all students performing with the Pep Band at Homecoming; being a musical force in the stands to support our Huskers!

What: Pep Band Dinner and Varsity Football Homecoming Game

When: Friday, September 25th

Report at 5:00pm to attend our pre-game dinner

Report at 5:45pm if you are only attending our performance at the game

Game: 6:30-9:00pm vs. Carmel

Wear: Your YHS Band Polo

All YHS Band students are also invited to a pre-game dinner of pizza, salad, and dessert, served in the YHS Cafeteria. The cost is $5 per student. Please either bring cash to class, or contribute via Zeffy here: 

So we can get an accurate head count for pizza, please RSVP with your $5 payment by Thursday 9/24

PARENT HOMECOMING HELP NEEDED, PLEASE

There are many opportunities to help by either donating supplies or your time.  Please visit our SignUp Genius to find out more. (Thank you to Ms. Rindone for her work to organize this event!). 

TRI-M MUSIC HONOR SOCIETY – GENERAL MEETING – WED. 9/23

The YHS Tri-M chapter is open to grades 9-12 and is looking for new membership! Mark your calendars for their general interest meeting to learn more – Wednesday September 23rd at 2:30 in the orchestra room. 

Tri-M Website Link

Google Classroom code: s72ohakq

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Ms. Ryan directs our YHS Symphony Orchestra, which meets every Friday from 2:20-3:15. Rehearsals will begin 9/25. Interested band students, please speak to Ms. Kluga for audition details.

APPLE PICKING @ WILKEN’S FARM – NOW SUNDAY 9/27:

Our annual Band “spirit” outing; a social opportunity for students to have fun together outside of rehearsal.

Report Time: Meet AT WILKEN’S at 10:00am SUNDAY 9/27. Wear your YHS Band polo

End Time: Approximately 12:00 noon

COST: $16 cash (includes a half-peck of apples, apple cider, 1 cider doughnut, and priceless band memories 🙂

RSVP: Please bring in $16 cash by Thursday 9/23

Thank you to WE VP Damien Ruiz (‘28) and CB Prez Alyson Turcios (’29) for organizing this year’s trip!

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

MUSIC BOOSTERS TAG SALE FUNDRAISER

Our annual Music Boosters Tag Sale is a fun fundraiser and community building event!  Please save your stuff to donate.  Our sale is Saturday 10/17 from 9am-2pm at YHS.  We will be accepting donations on Friday 10/16 from 2:30-7pm.  Tell your friends and neighbors!  Parent and student volunteers are needed to make this event a success.  Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks to find out how you can help.

 SUPPORT THE FIRST NIGHTERS!

As the Huskers are to YHS athletics, the First Nighters are to our Performing Arts programs.  Their sponsorship form is attached. Please consider joining and volunteering.

ATTACHED FLYERS

For your review – some interesting musical opportunities for our students!

 WW Day Link here

Thanks for reading! Happy to answer questions. Have a great week!

Musically Yours,

Ms. Kluga

Our Next Event:

YHS Band Lesson Schedule - SEPTEMBER 26