West Islip H.S. Wind Ensemble

The West Islip High School Band Program has three concert bands of which the Wind Ensemble is the most advanced. The Wind Ensemble has a rich history of performance. It has performed throughout the northeast, mid Atlantic states, Florida, and Canada, and has consistently received Gold and Gold with Distinction awards at NYSSMA Major Organization Festivals. The Wind Ensemble has also been host to many acclaimed composers and clinicians throughout the years including; Jerry Nowak, Anthony Maiello, James Swearingen, Carl Strommen, Bob Mintzer, Peter Boonshaft, Will Rapp, Glenn Drewes, Dennis DeBlasio, Ben Fritz, Ron Sutherland, and Michael Sweeney, from whom a piece was commissioned and premiered in May 2009.

The West Islip High School Band Program includes the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, marching band, three jazz ensembles, pit orchestra, and several small ensembles. Members of the band program are also very active in enrichment ensembles outside of school including; Nassau/Suffolk Wind Symphony, Nassau/Suffolk Concert Band, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Gemini Youth Symphony, and the Julliard pre college program.

James Krais

James Krais completed his undergraduate studies in Music and Education at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, and Dowling College in New York. He received his Masters Degree from SUNY Stony Brook. He has taught elementary band, middle school band, and general music in the Herricks School District, and high school band, and music theory at Holy Trinity High School. Mr. Krais is currently in his twenty first year at West Islip High School for which he has been Director of Bands since 1999. He is the director of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz “A” Ensemble, Marching Lions, and All District Band. He is also the High School Drama Coordinator as well as Coordinator for the West Islip Summer Music Program.

Mr. Krais is a certified NYSSMA adjudicator and NYSSMA jazz adjudicator, has been the instrumental chairperson for the SCMEA All-County Jazz Festival and the All-County Jazz Ensemble, and has chaired the NYSSMA solo and ensemble festival for Nassau County. His Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band have consistently received Gold and Gold with Distinction awards at NYSSMA Major Organization Festivals.

Clinic: Balanced Instrumentation – It’s not always about numbers

This clinic will explore conventional, as well as some not so obvious, ways to attain and maintain a consistent balanced instrumentation in the high school band.

Last reviewed: 1/19/2010