YHS Band

Director: Matt Kazmierski 

Varsity Band
Symphonic Band
Wind Symphony
Jazz Band

Congratulations to Ypsilanti High School Wind Symphony Band -

Band Festival

Wind Symphony, directed by Matt Kazmierski, has earned the highest score of all ones at the band festival at Lincoln last night.

University Musical Society DTE Energy Foundation Educator of the Year for 2013

Matt Kazmierski, YPS band director, was named the University Musical Society DTE Energy Foundation Educator of the Year for 2013. Mr. Kaz was honored for his commitment to and advancement of arts education in Ypsilanti Public Schools; more specifically, for his work to ensure a comprehensive band program in spite of grade and building reconfigurations that removed band from sixth grade programming. His success with sixth grade band participation and coordination as a result of his efforts led evaluators to consider him educator of the year.

Mr. Kaz will receive his award at the Ford Honors program on March 16, and will be a guest at the Yo-Yo Ma concert afterward. One of his classes next school year will be treated to a UMS School Day Performance, and will also receive a guest artist visit at school.

Click here for Ann Arbor News article, and click here for the UMS announcement and award description.

YHS Jazz Band at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History - November 13

rehearsals are usually 6:30-9:00 in the evening

Band Course Descriptions

629 VARSITY BAND

Full Year
9-10-11-12
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Students that demonstrate rudimentary proficiency on their instrument, by an audition, may elect the Varsity Band. Members participate in concerts, Solo and Ensemble Festival, Band festivals, and in school and community events. Members of the Varsity Band may elect to participate in the Marching Band. Students must demonstrate reasonable progress during the year in order to maintain membership in the Varsity Band. All performances are a required part of the course. This class will fulfill the Physical Education requirement.

633 SYMPHONIC BAND

Full Year
9-10-11-12
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
The Symphonic Band is open to those students who have demonstrated a high level of instrumental proficiency, deemed adequate through an audition. The finest in band literature will be studied in preparation for concerts, Band Festivals, Solo and Ensemble Festivals, school and community events, and tours. Members of the Symphonic Band may elect to participate in the Marching Band. The Band Director will schedule occasional after school rehearsals. Students must show reasonable musical progress on their instruments in order to maintain membership in the Symphonic Band. All performances are a required part of the course. This class will fulfill the Physical Education requirement.

636 WIND SYMPHONY

Full Year
9-10-11-12
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
The Wind Symphony is open to those students who have demonstrated the highest level of instrumental proficiency through an audition. The finest in wind literature will be studied in preparation for concerts, Band Festivals, Solo and Ensemble Festivals, school and community events, and tours. Members of the Wind Symphony may also elect to participate in the Marching Band. The Band Director will schedule before and/or after school rehearsals, as needed. Students must show reasonable musical progress on their instruments in order to maintain membership in the Wind Symphony. All performances are a required part of the course. This class will fulfill the Physical Education requirement.

639 JAZZ BAND

Full Year
9-10-11-12
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
The Jazz Band will rehearse and perform a wide variety of classical and contemporary jazz compositions. Much time is spent developing improvisatorial skills. All performances are required and students must also be a regular member of one of the other bands or the orchestra. This class will fulfill the Physical Education requirement.