Music, Growth, and Gratitude – A Year in Review
by Kevin Kazmierczak & Yijie Han
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WMB 2024-2025 Board Members
Time flies, and here we are at the final issue of our newsletter for the year. As we reflect on this year’s progress, we ask ourselves: How well did we achieve the goals we set last fall?
Supporting Our Students
One of our core priorities is providing students with opportunities to engage in music beyond the classroom. Our newsletter initiative allows students to gain behind-the-scenes insight into the district’s music program while helping spread awareness. Students brainstormed topics for each issue, conducted interviews with teachers, alumni, and fellow students, and produced final articles. Through these experiences, they developed a sense of responsibility and a deeper connection to the community.
Newsletter Editorial Board students interviewing Julia Grieco, WMB 2025 scholarship winner
Strengthening Teacher Support
This year, we introduced a new process for teachers to request funding, improving accessibility and efficiency. As a result, we supported multiple field trips, enabling middle school students to participate in band festivals beyond school grounds. We also backed several teacher-led initiatives that brought accomplished musicians to the district, offering master classes that enriched students' learning experiences.
Building Community Connections
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is witnessing the multigenerational impact of music in Williamsville. Many community members have shared fond memories of how the Music Boosters supported them decades ago—funding trips that allowed students to compete nationally in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Philadelphia, and even in Florida. The legacy of these experiences continues to resonate, reinforcing the profound role that our organization plays in our community.
Fundraising and Volunteer Efforts
Concert concessions remain a vital part of our booster efforts, and we are grateful for the enthusiastic support of teachers, volunteers, and community members. Our success is made possible by the excellence of the music program itself—teachers and students put on incredible concerts that unite the community, providing opportunities to raise funds and enhance concert experiences.
This year, three out of four booster officers were new to the organization. While we faced initial challenges, we tackled them head-on and successfully attracted more members to join our team, including our technology officer, Mr. Francesco LLiguicota, and our newsletter editor, Ms. Vicky Santos.
A special highlight was welcoming our new inventory manager, Mrs. Shuyin Shi, a proud East High orchestra parent. After joining us following the winter concert, she made remarkable progress in just four months—streamlining flower sales and coordinating with a vendor to produce the new booster T-shirts.
Mrs. Shuyin Shi, WMB Inventory Manager
We are deeply grateful to all our volunteers, especially Mrs. Andrea Smith from Casey Middle School, whose dedication has been invaluable. As we look ahead, we hope to strengthen our volunteer network by establishing lead coordinators at each middle and high school. This will not only enhance engagement but also ensure better coverage for concession sales, helping us maximize fundraising efforts to support the district's music programs.
Looking Ahead
Our goals for next year remain centered on fulfilling our missions:
Increase student involvement in booster initiatives – Expanding opportunities for students to contribute to the newsletter, take on editorial roles, develop the website, design visuals, and lead small fundraising and community outreach projects. These experiences will allow them to take ownership of the process, develop leadership skills, and deepen their connection to the music community.
Enhance the visibility of school concerts as major community events – With special emphasis on winter holiday performances and spring jazz festivals, ensuring greater awareness and accessibility for all.
Streamline booster operations and make resources more accessible – Standardizing processes and publishing clear guidelines online for scholarships, NYSBDA reimbursements, and other essential programs.
Finally, we are excited to welcome our newest executive board member, Mrs. Nicole Bodemer, who currently serves as the volunteer coordinator for the North side of the district and will transition into the role of vice president in August.
We welcome your ideas for the year ahead—visit our website and connect with us! Thank you, our members, for your continued dedication and support!
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