After an incredibly successful concert-and-festival-filled year, band director Christopher Takis was awarded District 16 MSBOA Band Director of the Year.

Takis has been the band director at South for 10 years and conducts all band ensembles at South including wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band and the concert and symphony bands. This year, after being nominated, Takis submitted an application to be considered for District 16 MSBOA Band Director of the Year, and was later chosen as the winner.

“MSBOA is an organization in the entire state,” Takis said. “There are 16 districts and every district nominates a band teacher of the year and an orchestra teacher of the year.”

According to Takis, even outside of this award, this year was very rewarding for the band, especially due to their involvement in the Michigan Music Conference.

“The wind ensemble was selected to play at the Michigan Music Conference in January,” Takis said. “That’s where the all-state bands and orchestras perform every year. We were one of the eight schools in the entire state of Michigan that was selected to perform, so that was obviously our big moment of the year.”

French horn player Mara Adams ’23 agreed the MMC was a major highlight of the year, and expressed how the band owes much of their opportunities and success to Takis.

“Takis is very dedicated,” Adams said. “He always works very hard to help us improve and give us all the resources we need.”

Luc Michaud ’23, a trumpet player in the South bands, also mentioned his thanks to Takis for pushing him to continue playing the trumpet and being a great encouragement in general.

“Takis has inspired me since sixth grade to keep pursuing music,” Michaud said. “Over the years he has offered us many things, like allowing us to experience sort of once in a lifetime opportunities like MMC in Grand Rapids.”

In a reflection of the year as a whole, Takis mentioned just how much his position means to him, and how thankful he is for this award.

“Personally, (directing the band) is a very humbling experience,” Takis said. “I would say it’s really nice to be seen and be noticed for the work that you put in the work that you do. I’m incredibly grateful for the students as well, because they’ve worked so hard.”