Join York Music Boosters, and you can be a part of a decades-long tradition of providing support to the York High School music and dance programs. YMB proudly boosts students in band, orchestra, choir, music production and dance.

Become a YMB member

How does YMB help the Performing Arts students, teachers and programs at York?

• Grants, scholarships and private lessons for students to pursue opportunities in the performing arts

• Year-end award programs to honor exemplary students in the performing arts

• The hosting of concert receptions

• Support for York's one-of-a-kind Fine Arts Week and the York Album Project

• Help for students to offset the costs of school-sponsored travel, including by organizing fundraisers such as the traditional Holiday Greens Sale and Lou Malnati's Pizza Sale

  • During the 2024-2025 school year, for example, YMB organized fundraisers that deposited thousands of dollars into individual student escrow accounts. It also provided help for students in need of financial assistance to take part in school-led, out-of-state trips.

• Partner with District 205 on projects to improve the performing arts experience at York High School.

  • YMB, for instances, reached its "Dream Grand" goal (with Elmhurst Music Boosters), raising $22,000 to help bring a concert-worthy piano to the York auditorium.

YMB looks forward to carrying on this tradition, but these successes are only possible with your membership, donations and help.

Become a YMB member

York Music Boosters Is Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Summer Music Scholarships

York Music Boosters is pleased to offer scholarship assistance to musicians currently enrolled in York High School’s music programs. Students in 9th through 11th grades, currently enrolled in band, orchestra, choir, music production, or dance, are eligible for scholarship assistance.

Applications are due on Friday, May 8.

Learn more and apply for a scholarship

Congratulations to all of York's ILMEA Honorees for 2025-2026

Top high school musicians from across Illinois are gathering in Peoria in January. Among them: several outstanding students across York's various Performing Arts programs.

York Music Boosters congratulates these talented and hard-working students for being being chosen to participate in the highly selective Illinois Music Education Association All-State Festival, as well as those honored for their original compositions.

York music teachers and participating students traveled to Peoria for two days of rehearsals with nationally renowned conductors, culminating in a performance at the Peoria Convention Center. Here is the list of York's All-State musicians:

All-State Performers

• Heidi Bedinghaus | Honors Chorus

• Gabe Boutin | Honors Band

• Sam Deverman | Honors Orchestra

• Megumi Gallwas | All-State Orchestra

• Eamon Hall | Honors Orchestra

• Kirsten Jao | All-State Band

• Vivien Lo | All-State Orchestra

• Colin Mahoney | Honors Band

• Alexios Malamis | Honors Orchestra

• Yiorgos Malamis | Honors Band

• Emily Saldanha | Honors Band

• Itzel Zamora-Garcia | All-State Band

All-State Composition Competition Honorees

• Jack Bricker

• Anthony Olague

• Kai Ramsay

• Tessa Schultz

• Devin Smego

In the fall, 37 York Performing Arts students were selected to take part in ILMEA festivals.

Senior Band

• Gabe Boutin | Tuba

• Nicholas Deligiannis | French Horn

• Jonah Hertel | Tuba

• Kirsten Jao | French Horn

• Erin Lamorte | Oboe

• Colin Mahoney | Bass Clarinet

• Yiorgos Malamis | Bb Clarinet

• Emma Salamanca | Flute

• Emily Saldanha | Bb Clarinet

• Arjan Shuaipaj | Percussion

• Henry Teague | Trumpet

• Itzel Zamora-Garcia | Bb Clarinet

Senior Chorus

• Libby Anderson | Alto I

• Sarah Anstiss | Soprano II

• Heidi Bedinghaus | Alto I

• Kate Bigane | Soprano I

• Matthew Ericksen | Bass I

• Ava Glavinskas | Alto I

• Alex Wilson | Tenor II

• Winifred Wolf | Alto I

Senior Jazz Band and Senior Jazz Combo

• Eamon Hall | Jazz Bass Trombone

• Alexios Malamis | Jazz Drum Set

Senior Orchestra

• Brynn Asgedom | Violin

• Sam Deverman | French Horn

• Kenneth Gallwas | Cello

• Joseph Gallwas | Violin

• Megumi Gallwas | Violin

• Sarah Gerbasi | Violin

• Eamon Hall | Bass Trombone

• Madeleine Jao | Oboe

• Madison Leighton | Viola

• Vivien Lo | Cello

• Alexios Malamis | Percussion

• Jane Skattum | Double Bass

• Kaviraj Ubhi | Cello

• Ainsley William | Oboe

• Brenna Wisniewski | Oboe

York Musicians Performing in the Community: Photos from Chamber Concert at Elmhurst Public Library

Customized Shirts Available in YMB Merchandise Store: Wear Your Support for York Performing Arts

Check out our new online store for Performing Arts parents, students and supporters! You can customize a shirt, and we also have new "I'm with the Band" shirts so you can show your support for the York Marching Band, whose pregame, in-game and halftime performances help make Friday night football games so special.

• YMB online store

All the Performing Arts in One Night

Watch the 2025 York Collage Concert

Seeking New YMB Board Members: Join Us and Help the Performing Arts at York

Are you interested in contributing to the continued success of York’s band, choir, dance, music production and orchestra programs? Would you like to join our fun and dedicated group of York Music Boosters serving on the YMB Board? We need people to serve for the school year ahead. Please contact us at yorkmusicboosters@gmail.com.

Shoutout to These Award-Winning Performing Arts Students at York!

York Music Boosters congratulates all of the exemplary students in band, choir, dance, music production and orchestra who here honored with year-end awards for the 2024-'25 school year. The following York students won these YMB-sponsored awards. (Award winners are chosen by the York High School Performing Arts teachers.)

Riddle Award*

Band | Liam Fahey

Choir | Lola Torson

Dance | Dayne Crow

Music Production | Kai Ramsay and Angel Morales Corona

* The William Riddle Award is awarded to outstanding York Performing Arts sophomores or juniors who put the needs of others first and help their peers to develop, learn and succeed. Winners can use the awards for lessons, summer camps, and instrument upgrades or for additional music and leadership enrichment opportunities. The award is named after William (Bill) Riddle, who led the Performing Arts Department for 11 years.

Ostwald Award*

Ignas Zemaitaitis

* This scholarship award is presented to a sophomore, junior, or senior orchestra student who consistently demonstrates dedication to musicianship; dependability; a positive attitude; leadership by example; and a kind, helpful spirit. It honors the legacy of Ray Ostwald, who retired as York High School orchestra director after 27 years of service at the school.

York Performing Arts Memorial Award*

Alexa Klein

* The York Performing Arts Memorial Award is a testament to YMB’s deep commitment to fostering a vibrant community and nurturing a rich cultural heritage within the York Performing Arts Program. It is bestowed upon a senior student who not only showcases outstanding leadership and citizenship, but also exemplifies exceptional musicianship. This memorial scholarship is our way of honoring the enduring legacy of York music students whose contributions have gone beyond mere performance, embodying leadership and service to our community.

YMB also congratulates these other year-end award winners in the Performing Arts:

• Band — Matthew Markwald: Sousa Award; Anthony D'Alessandro: Paulus Award; and Justin Anderson: Louis Armstrong Award

• Dance — Brooklyn Nuss: Outstanding Senior in Dance

• Orchestra — Noah Choi: Inez Mittelstadt Orchestra Service Award; and Zhihanna Liu: National School Orchestra Award

Check Out the Latest York Album Project

The talent, creativity and hard work of our York students can be heard throughout the 28-track “do you believe in ghosts,” the title of this year’s York Album Project. It was released on May 16 and is available on all streaming platforms. Under the direction of teacher Chris Gemkow, the York Album Project has been releasing original student songs for 10 years. The latest album continues to highlight the talent of these young songwriters and music producers.

The cover art was designed by senior Connor Thibos.

The York Album Project is an extracurricular activity -- all of the students put in considerable time outside the school day to record their songs. Almost all of the songs were entirely recorded and mixed at York.

Give it a listen

A board of dedicated — and fun — individuals from the York community serve on the YMB Board, helping lead and advance the mission of York Music Boosters. Below is the list of members who served on the YMB Board during the past school year; the list of YMB members for the 2024-25 school year will be posted here soon.

We are always looking for people who are interested in helping YMB and/or joining the YMB Board.

Please contact us here.