CONTACT:
takisc@gpschools.org
(313) 432-3642

Christopher Takis, Director of Bands

Christopher Takis is the Director of Bands at Grosse Pointe South High School. Prior to his appointment in 2012, he was Director of Bands at Lincoln Middle School in the Van Dyke Public Schools (Warren, MI) for seven years. Under Mr. Takis’s direction, the South Band program grew to over 145 members and went from two concert bands to three. In addition to the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and Concert Band, Mr. Takis also directs the South Marching Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band. The bands have consistently received first division ratings at MSBOA Band & Orchestra District and State Festival under his direction. Since his arrival, the South Bands have performed in Italy, Austria, California, and New York City at the famed Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. He also teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory, music technology, and piano at South. Under Mr. Takis’s direction, the Blue Devil Marching Band returned to South High School in 2013 for the first time in almost three decades.

Mr. Takis was selected as the 2022 MSBOA District XVI Teacher of the Year for Band. In 2015, Mr. Takis was one of the recipients of the eighth annual Grosse Pointe Board of Education’s Distinguished Employee Service Awards. Mr. Takis is an avid performer as a percussionist and has previously performed with the Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra, Warren Concert Band, Motor City Brass Band, and Five Lakes Silver Band. He plays bass guitar with the group Six Point Five, a local rock band composed of Detroit-area band directors. He is currently the MSBOA District XVI 2nd Vice President for Solo and Ensemble.

Mr. Takis has degrees from Michigan State University (Bachelor of Music Education, 2005) and Saginaw Valley State University (Master of Arts, Instructional Technology, 2012). He is currently pursuing a Master of Music Theory from Wayne State University, where he is a recipient of the Evangeline L. Dumesnil Scholarship from the Department of Music. While a student at Michigan State, he was a member of the Spartan Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Spartan Brass, Percussion Ensemble, State Singers, and the award-winning Competition Drumline, studying under and performing for John Whitwell, John T. Madden, Dr. Jonathan Weber, Dr. Alison Shaw, and maestro Leon Gregorian.