Band

Welcome to the Walter R. Sundling Middle School Band Website!

The WRS Band Program is one of the most exciting and enriching educational opportunities available at our school. Our mission is to provide students with an exceptional musical experience that fosters both artistic growth and personal development. Studies show that students involved in music consistently rank among the highest achievers academically.

Beyond musical skills, band members cultivate essential life qualities such as teamwork, perseverance, leadership, confidence, and collaboration.

Currently, over 120 students across Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades participate in the WRS Band Program. We proudly offer four dynamic ensembles: 6th Grade Cadet Band, 7th Grade Concert Band, 8th Grade Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band, each providing students with unique performance opportunities and a deeper connection to music.

Join the WRS Band!

YOU BELONG HERE!

YOU BELONG HERE!

WRS Publicity

Questions & Answers

Samples schedules of WRS Band Members...

Some of the activities WRS Band Members are involved in ...

Baseball • Basketball • Best Buddies • Book Club • Boy Scouts • Cheerleading • Chorus • Church Group • Cross Country • Dance • Drama • Fall Play • Football • Girl Scouts • Golf • Horseback Riding • Intramurals • Japanese School • Lego Club • Marketing Club • Musical • National Junior Honors Society • Newspaper Club • Peer Mentors • Piano • Polish School • Robotics Club • Rocket Club • Science Fair • Science Olympiad • Service Club • Soccer • Softball • Stage Crew • Student Council • Sundling Sound • Swimming • Tae Kwon Do • Tennis • Track & Field • Variety Show • Volleyball • WRS News • Wrestling • Yearbook • Yoga • Young Entrepreneurs Program

Dear Mr. Zilke ...

Dear Mr. Zilke,

I’ve really had an amazing time these last two years. Coming into Seventh Grade, the Band Program introduced me to so many people and I think the bonds with those people have become incredibly strong, especially those in Jazz Band. It feels like a second family to me, Band. I feel like I can be myself in Band; I always feel more confident surrounded by people who aren’t so concerned about an image, but more about doing something they love or having fun. Band is an amazing experience and I truly think you made it so.

You truly care about us, you truly show care for what we play and our growth as musicians in every song you pick, in every practice record and every seating audition. You actually care about the result. I truly believe you want us to succeed, to do the most with what we have. That’s what means so much to me. You’ve inspired me to pursue music, to love it. I really did want to become first chair once I came to public school. I wanted to become something special and significant for the Band, for myself and in your eyes.

I feel like I’ve worked hard these last two years. I felt that when we won first at North Shore, it was a true sign we had all come far. It was amazing proof that you were able to inspire persistence and passion in all of us.

The feel of a second family like this and the individual care you gave all of us is what I’m going to miss the most from all of Sundling. As I enter high school, Mr. Zilke, I’m going to do my best to follow your advice, to understand that I’m a small fish once again. I’m going to try my hardest. I’m going to do whatever it takes to become special to my director, to make a name for myself, to become significant.

I want to thank you so much for everything you’ve done. Thank you for challenging me, for helping me and for listening to me. You’ve changed my life, Mr. Zilke.

Sincerely,

Justin L., Class of 2009

Our favorite things about WRS Band ...

Advice for incoming 7th graders

Be a Part of the Music

Ensembles

6th Grade Cadet Band

Cadet Band is offered as a Sixth Grade enrichment class to all students who have successfully completed Beginning Band. Students are invited to continue their band experience on traditional band instruments. Band meets once during the school day as an enrichment class. Students are also required to attend one small-group lesson per week on a rotating schedule. Through the study of different time periods and styles, students will understand music as a form of communication which will expand their ability to listen, analyze and discuss concepts. Through daily learning, the band prepares and performs at concerts and events during and outside the school day.

This year's performances include: 6th Grade Fall Band Concert, 6th & 8th Grade March Madness Band Concert and 6th & 7th Grade Spring Band Concert.

The 2024-2025 Cadet Band is comprised of 40 Sixth Grade students.

Click here to view Cadet Band Literature (2024-Present)

7th Grade Concert Band

Concert Band is offered as a Seventh Grade enrichment class to all students who have successfully completed Intermediate Band. Students are invited to continue their band experience on traditional band instruments. Band meets once during the school day as an enrichment class. Students are also required to attend one small-group lesson per week on a rotating schedule. Through the study of different time periods and styles, students will understand music as a form of communication which will expand their ability to listen, analyze and discuss concepts. Through daily learning, the band prepares and performs at concerts and events during and outside the school day.

This year's performances include: 7th & 8th Grade Fall Band Concert, 7th Grade March Madness Band Concert and 6th & 7th Grade Spring Band Concert.

The 2024-2025 Concert Band is comprised of 35 Seventh Grade students.

Click here to view Concert Band Literature (2000-Present)

8th Grade Symphonic Band

Symphonic Band is offered as an Eighth Grade enrichment class to all students who have successfully completed Concert Band. Students are invited to continue their band experience on traditional band instruments. Band meets once during the school day as an enrichment class. Students are also required to attend one small-group lesson per week on a rotating schedule. Through the study of different time periods and styles, Eighth Grade students will develop a relatively more advanced understanding of music as a form of communication which will expand their ability to listen, analyze and discuss concepts. Through daily learning, the band prepares and performs at concerts and events during and outside the school day. Eighth Grade students will also have the opportunity to make connections with their appropriate High School band program, teachers and students.

This year's performances include: Palatine High School Band Day, 7th & 8th Grade Fall Band Concert, 6th & 8th Grade March Madness Band Concert and 8th Grade Spring Band Concert.

The 2024-2025 Symphonic Band is comprised of 40 Eighth Grade students.

Click here to view Symphonic Band Literature (2000-Present)

Jazz Band

Jazz Band is open to all Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade and Eighth Grade students who qualify by audition. The Jazz Band seats a select group of musicians and is comprised of the following instrumentation: Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Electric Guitar, Piano, Bass Guitar and Drum Set. Note: all wind players and percussionists are also required to participate in Cadet Band, Concert Band or Symphonic Band.

The Jazz Band rehearses throughout the school year on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6:45 a.m. to 7:25 a.m. in the WRS Theater with occasional sectionals before/after school (prior to upcoming performances).

The Jazz Band performs at various events throughout the school year. This year's performances include: 6th Grade Fall Band Concert, 7th Grade March Madness Band Concert, Open House Performance and 8th Grade Spring Band Concert.

The 2024-2025 Jazz Band is comprised of 19 Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade and Eighth Grade students.

Click here to view Jazz Band Literature (2000-Present)

Achievements/Recognition

SupportMusic Merit Award

Guest Clinicians

2024	Mr. Josh Thompson, Lake Zurich High School
2023	Mr. Brent Burger, Fremont Middle School
2022	Mr. Ed Koehler, Lake Zurich Middle School South (Retired)
2020	Mr. Greg Wojcik, Glenbrook South High School (Retired)
2019	Mr. JT Teichert, Fremd High School
2018	Mr. Jim Garbrecht, Hawthorn Middle School North (Retired)
2017	Mr. Ed Jacobi, Buffalo Grove High School (Retired)
2016	Mr. Jeff Jay, Maple School (Retired)
2015	Mr. Jeremy Figlewicz, Fremd High School (Former)
2014	Mr. Carlos Esquivel, Palatine High School
2013	Mr. Brian Balmages, Composer
2012, 2011	Mr. Ron Polancich, York High School (Retired)
2010	Dr. Ryan Nelson, Northwestern University
2009	Dr. Richard Fischer, Concordia University

Contest/Festival Recognition

Gateway Music Festival	Silver Rating: 2003
Heritage Music Festival	Silver Rating: 2002
IGSMA Organization Contest	Superior Rating: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Excellent Rating: 2002
Jazz in the Meadows Festival	Superior Rating: 2016
Music in the Parks Festival	Excellent Rating: 2001 Good Rating: 2001
North Shore Jazz Festival	Superior Rating (1st Place): 2005, 2009 Superior Rating (2nd Place): 2008, 2014, 2016 Superior Rating (3rd Place): 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Superior Rating: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2015 Excellent Rating: 2001

Student Recognition

Director of Bands

Mr. Jeff Zilke

Mr. Jeff Zilke

Jeff Zilke is in his 25th year as Director of Bands at Walter R. Sundling Middle School in Palatine, Illinois, conducting the Cadet, Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands.

He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Under his direction, the Concert and Symphonic Bands consistently earned superior ratings at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) Organization Contest, while the Jazz Band received top honors at the North Shore Jazz Festival and Jazz in the Meadows Festival. His bands have also performed at the Gateway Music Festival, Heritage Music Festival, and Music in the Parks Festival. The program was featured in School Band and Orchestra Magazine (Feb. 2004), and the Sundling Music Department received the SupportMusic Merit Award from The NAMM Foundation (2020-2024).

His professional affiliations include ASBDA, ILMEA, IGSMA, Mu Phi Epsilon, and Kappa Delta Pi. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Quinlan & Fabish Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award (2019), Illinois PTA Teacher of the Year (2017), and the Illinois State Board of Education’s "Those Who Excel" Award (2013).

Beyond teaching, he conducted 13 Palatine High School Marching Band members in Flags of Our Fathers (2005), commissioned Endless Rainbows by Brian Balmages (2013), and led the Symphonic Band in a Wrigley Field performance of Go Cubs Go! during the 2016 World Series, featured on WGN Morning News.

Jeff lives in Lake Zurich with his wife, Susan, their children, Anthony and Madelyn, and their dog, Rizzo.

Parent Involvement

Parental involvement is essential in a successful organization and we have been fortunate to have strong and active parent volunteers supporting the WRS Band Program. The WRS Band Parent Organization is a volunteer organization comprised of band parents dedicated to assisting our band program in various capacities throughout the school year.

The following committees have been formed to support our Band program:

Awards Banquet Committee
Car Wash Fundraiser Committee
Chaperone Committee
Technology Committee
Uniform Committee

Fundraising

WRS Band Boosters

The WRS Band Boosters was formed in an effort to reduce the number of Band fundraisers we participate in without compromising the financial needs of our Band Program. Parents, friends and business owners will have the opportunity to support our Band Program by becoming a Band Booster.

Here’s what you get:

Your name (individual, family or business) and participation level in every concert program
A window-cling decal for your car showing that you are a supporter of the band program

Please sign-up here!

WRS Music Department Car Wash

Our annual Music Department Car Wash Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the WRS Bus Circle. All donations are accepted to support the WRS Music Department!

Box Tops for Education

The WRS Band Department participates in the Box Tops for Education Program.

Please click here for more information!

WRS Band Amazon Wish List

Our Bands are always in need of additional reeds, mallets, pencils and other items for our Band members.

Please click Here to donate!