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Crystal Lake South High School

For All Students. For Each Student.

Crystal Lake South Band

Crystal Lake South Band

CLS Band Photo

The Crystal Lake South Band is a "family" that supports the continued musical and personal growth for ALL of our members, no matter their ability level. Band is a group activity where no one sits on the sideline; everyone participates! Students are actively engaged every day in an activity that stimulates creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, self-discipline and motivation. Other benefits of music education include aesthetic awareness, cultural exposure, social harmony, improved emotional expression, and appreciation of diversity. Plus, making music is FUN! 

 

Student/Parent Registration Form

CLS Band ParentSquare

CLS Color Guard ParentSquare

CLS Band Handbook

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Ensembles & Activities

  • Wind Ensemble (Band IV): This top level ensemble meets daily for 45 minutes for the top instrumental students who have achieved a high level of musical artistry. This ensemble studies advanced wind band repertoire while maintaining an appropriately balanced ensemble.  This ensemble moves at a rigorous pace with a high degree of discipline.  Many students choose to audition for IMEA District Band and also study privately.  Membership is by audition only.

    Symphonic Band (Band III): This ensemble meets daily for 45 minutes and is meant for the developing instrumentalist.  Improvement in musical skill is addressed through study of appropriate musical literature, rhythm work, and scales.  Students are encouraged to study privately as well.  Students must have participated in their middle school band program or have consent of the director.

    Percussion Ensemble: This ensemble meets daily for 45 minutes for all percussion students.  Musical skill is developed through the study of snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, drum-set, and auxiliary percussion.  Students work both independently and in small ensembles.  These students combine with the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands for performances. Students must have participated in their middle school band program or have consent of the director.

  • Pep Band (Band III, IV, Percussion): All members in the Gator bands are a part of the Gator Pep Band which plays at many home basketball games and other local events. 

    Marching Gators (Band III, IV, Percussion): All members in the Gator bands are part of the Marching Gators which plays at all home football games, area parades, and festivals. Our main purpose is to entertain our audiences while continuing our musical development and maintaining our standard of excellence.

  • Jazz Ensemble: The CLS Jazz ensembles rehearse weekly after school from mid September-May.  They perform a wide variety of music including swing, blues, rock, funk, and latin. Jazz Ensemble is a traditional "Big Band" made up of saxes, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, and drums).  This group performs at festivals, outreach events, and is the premier ensemble. Auditions will Take place in the end of September.  Contact Mr. Foster for further information.

    Pit Ensemble: The pit orchestra rehearsals 1-2 times per week after school beginning in late November to prepare for the annual school musical in February.  The group is open to CLS students based on the instrumentation needs of the show.  Contact Mr. Foster for further information.

    Madrigal Brass/Winds: Open to CLS Band members only, these ensembles rehearse 1-2 times per week normally during school to prepare Renaissance style music for the annual Madrigal dinners in November/December. The brass ensemble is a standard brass quintet of 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba. The Wind ensemble is a standard quintet of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, & bassoon (or bass clarinet)

  • Band Camp Schedule

    Friday Night Home Game Schedule

    Marching Practices

    The Marching band will rehearse in the evening nights at 6 pm until the end of the marching season. 

    Rehearsal Schedule: 

    5:30 pm - Leadership pre-meeting

    5:45 pm - Band arrives to get equipment

    6:00 pm - Rehearsal starts at location (usually on field)

    7:00 pm - Break

    7:15 pm - Rehearsal Resumes

    8:15 pm - Full Runs

    8:30 pm - Rehearsal stop & notes given

    8:45 pm - Free to leave if not earlier

    2026-27 Marching Perofrmance Schedule

    Date Call Time Event
    Fri, Aug 7 10:15 am Freshman Orientation Performance
    Fri, Aug 7 See Camp Parent Marching Preview Show (5:30pm)
    Fri, Aug 21 4:00 pm Football v Prairie Ridge
    Fri, Sep 4 3:30 pm Football v McHenry (MS Night)
    Sun, Sep 13 TBD Knights Marching Tournament (Grayslake, IL)
    Mon, Sep 14 3:00 pm Homecoming Parade
    Fri, Sep 18 4:00 pm Football v CL Central (Homecoming)
    Sat, Sep 26 TBD Victor J. Andrew Festival (Tinley Park, IL)
    Fri, Oct 9 4:00 pm Football v Cary Grove (Senior Night)
    Sun, Oct 11 *2:00 pm Marengo Settlers Day Festival (Marengo, IL)
    Sat, Oct 17 12:30 pm CLC Marching Showcase (Crystal Lake, IL)
    Mon, May 31 9:15 am Memorial Day Parade

     

     

     

  • CLS Gator Pep Band

  • Please check here for more information. 

  • Please check here for more information. 

  • The CLS Color Guard is coached and overseen by Val Kundman, a community member and director of the Convergence Winter Guard Organization. This organization works closely and overlaps a great deal with with the CLS band program, especially with logistics. 

    CLS Color Guard Student/Parent Information Form

    CLS Color Guard Store

    To connect with Mrs. Kundman please email her at tvkundmann@comcast.net, If you have any questions regarding logics please reach out to Mr. Foster at dfoster@d155.org.

Parent Information and Volunteering

Band Parents are the key to success for our program. Thank you for all of your support and interest in being involved and helping to support our young musicians!

Below you will find a parent information form and a form for volunteer opportunities for the band. For more information and questions reach out to Mr. Foster on email at dfoster@d155.org

Parent Information Form

Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Sizing/Fitting during band camp and passing out uniforms as needed.

  • Uniform Fitting:  Assist with fitting the students in their proper jacket, pants, hats. Assist with distribution of shirts, shoes, etc.

  • Uniform Sewing:  Help create a perfect fit for a student's uniform by hemming pants or performing light uniform repairs (buttons, zippers, etc.). 

  • Uniform Crew:  Help with passing out and collecting uniforms at football games.

Keeping our program watered and fed, or any other hospitality related elements.

  • Hospitality Crew: Assist with set-up, tear-down, and serving of food at various events.

  • Event Water: At football games or other events, fill up or pass out water for the students.

  • Concession Worker: Assist in the concession stand for football or basketball.

Helping out with equipment logistics

  • Game Equipment: Help to move equipment from the band room to the stadium (and back); assist with podiums and/or pit equipment for pre-game & halftime shows.

  • Equipment Truck Driver: Rent & Drive the equipment truck to various marching or concert performances. Expenses are reimbursed.

  • Trip Equipment: Assist with loading/unloading the truck and moving equipment as we travel to marching or concert festivals.

Helping out with some of our AV needs for the season

  • Videographer: Looking for someone to video our marching program in their performances (parade, festival, & Friday nights)

  • Voice of the Band: Do you have an announcer's voice? We need someone who is willing to read our announcement script at the football games and Festival.

  • Fundraiser Helpers: Tally orders & count money, assist with delivery and distribution day. (asked as needed)

  • Trip Chaperones: Ride the bus with the students, take attendance, general supervisory duties. (asked as needed)

  • Booster Representative: Help support the band by being our representative with the CLS Boosters, attending meetings, and helping connect our two organizations

  • Sizing/Fitting during band camp and passing out uniforms as needed.

    • Uniform Fitting:  Assist with fitting the students in their proper jacket, pants, hats. Assist with distribution of shirts, shoes, etc.

    • Uniform Sewing:  Help create a perfect fit for a student's uniform by hemming pants or performing light uniform repairs (buttons, zippers, etc.). 

    • Uniform Crew:  Help with passing out and collecting uniforms at football games.

  • Keeping our program watered and fed, or any other hospitality related elements.

    • Hospitality Crew: Assist with set-up, tear-down, and serving of food at various events.

    • Event Water: At football games or other events, fill up or pass out water for the students.

    • Concession Worker: Assist in the concession stand for football or basketball.

  • Helping out with equipment logistics

    • Game Equipment: Help to move equipment from the band room to the stadium (and back); assist with podiums and/or pit equipment for pre-game & halftime shows.

    • Equipment Truck Driver: Rent & Drive the equipment truck to various marching or concert performances. Expenses are reimbursed.

    • Trip Equipment: Assist with loading/unloading the truck and moving equipment as we travel to marching or concert festivals.

  • Helping out with some of our AV needs for the season

    • Videographer: Looking for someone to video our marching program in their performances (parade, festival, & Friday nights)

    • Voice of the Band: Do you have an announcer's voice? We need someone who is willing to read our announcement script at the football games and Festival.

    • Fundraiser Helpers: Tally orders & count money, assist with delivery and distribution day. (asked as needed)

    • Trip Chaperones: Ride the bus with the students, take attendance, general supervisory duties. (asked as needed)

    • Booster Representative: Help support the band by being our representative with the CLS Boosters, attending meetings, and helping connect our two organizations

Student Resources

  • Future Members FAQ

  • Please check here for more information. 

  • To be excused from an event, rehearsal, or performance students must complete this absence request form. Exceptions being for emergency absences, which should then be communicated to the director via email from a parent.

    Requests are not guaranteed to be excused, but need to be timely, appropriate, and adhering to the attendance policy found in the band handbook that is posted on this website. While student communication in person is welcomed, all requests will still be required to go through this absence request form.

    Absence Request Form

  • Please check here for more information. 

  • While it is in the best interest and practice for students to prepare and perform at the highest level possible for their auditions, students will have the ability to challenge another student seated one chair higher in the same section, if they are unhappy with their placement. This procedure is in place to reward musical growth within the band and afford flexibility with chair placements.

    Challenge Form

    • Challenges can take place only after the formal audition placements have been posted.  

    • Challenges must be completed in a reasonable time before a performance as decided by Mr. Foster.  

    • Students can only challenge one chair at a time.  

    • Students must complete a “challenge form” and submit it to Mr. Foster for approval.  

    • The challenge will consist of 2 scales (with the number of octaves indicated) and 2 excerpts as decided upon by Mr. Foster.  

    • Upon approval of the challenge form, both students and Mr. Foster will have a brief meeting to set up agreeable time(s) to complete the challenge.   

    • Both students are expected to vigorously prepare to the best of their ability for the challenge. If Mr. Foster feels a student is intentionally "throwing" a challenge, the entire challenge will be canceled. 

    • If any 1 of the parties has an excused absence from school the day of the challenge (i.e. illness, family emergency), the challenge will be rescheduled at Mr. Foster’s discretion in a manner fair to both students and the band as a whole.  

    • If any 1 of the parties has an unexcused absence from the challenge (i.e. student does not show up, forgets, etc.), the automatic winner of the challenge will be the student that was present assuming challenge was completed in good faith.  

    • All challenges will be completed in a “blind” manner using numbers “1 and 2” that are randomly chosen by the students to create an atmosphere of fairness for both individuals.  With his back to the students, Mr. Foster will call out the musical material to be heard by one individual and then the other in an alternating method until all materials are completed.  

    • Mr. Foster will score the challenge while the students are playing.  

    • At the end of the challenge, Mr. Foster announce the winner of the challenge by the scores for numbers 1 and 2.  

    • The students will then disclose their numbers to Mr. Foster.  If the lower student wins the challenge, then the students must switch chairs (and music if necessary) at the next band rehearsal.  

    • Students can re-challenge after a period of 1 week provided that there is ample time remaining before a performance as decided by Mr. Foster.  

    • Above all, Mr. Foster has the final say as to the outcome of the challenge and its impact on the band as a whole.

  • Please check here for more information.