Performing Arts

Alan Posner is entering his fifth year of teaching at Bloomfield Hills High School and eleventh year as a band director.  Prior to that, he spent his first three years of teaching in Suttons Bay, MI and the next four at Berkley High School and Norup International School.  Mr. Posner holds a degree in instrumental music education from the University of Michigan where he studied with Colleen Conway, Steve Davis, Michael Haithcock, and Donald Sinta.  He is also holds a master's degree in instrumental conducting at Oakland University where he studied with Greg Cunningham.  Mr. Posner has attended conducting symposiums at Ithaca College, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, University of Missouri Kansas City, and the MMC conducting workshop.  He was the recipient of the 2012-2013 Berkley High School Teacher of the Year.  Mr. Posner performs actively with many groups in the Metro Detroit area including his klezmer band "Klezundheit". He also serves as the President of MSBOA District 4. In the past, Mr. Posner has also served as the Vice President of Solo and Ensemble for District 2, VP of adjudication for District 4, VP of Band and Orchestra for District 4, host of the District 2 honors band, and Music Ed and Festival improvements committee representative for district 4. Mr. Posner's groups routinely receive "superior" ratings at festival.  In 2015, the Berkley High School Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids. Mr. Posner is a 2004 graduate of Andover High School and attended Bloomfield Hills Schools K-12.  Words cannot describe how excited and honored he was to take over a program that was run by his mentor and high school band director, Mr. Bob Ambrose. In his spare time, Mr. Posner enjoys watching and playing sports, traveling, and spending time with family. Mr. Posner is married to the wonderful Michelle Posner.  They live in Berkley with their two children Asher and Owen.

Scott Wolf began his string teaching career with Bloomfield Hills Schools to teach orchestra at East Hills Middle School in 1995. One year later he was asked to help start the music program at the Bloomfield Hills International Academy. He is now very excited to be a part of the Bloomfield Hills High School Music Department. Mr. Wolf is a firm believer that flexibility and rigor make an outstanding teacher. Rigor is absolutely necessary from a curricular standpoint. In any subject area, a teacher needs to be able to assist students in reaching the goals of the curriculum. He believes that outstanding teachers help students achieve well beyond what the community expects. As a musician, Mr. Wolf strives to have students stretch into levels of music performance that go beyond competency into artistry. This takes a keen awareness of pedagogy to move students progressively into more and more complex areas of study. However, every great teacher needs to know that flexibility is the key to mastery. Every student acquires information at a different rate. A great teacher is able to work with all students to assist them on the rigorous path to success. As an educator, it is also important to know that change is inevitable, and flexibility within the school community helps to develop a more agile staff when it comes to introducing new curriculum or the implementation of new ideas.

Mr. Wolf sets a rigorous path of action in his orchestras. He has very high expectations for his students in the ability to communicate musical ideas. Mr. Wolf takes pride in all students and understands that all musicians enter with a different level of accomplishment and having the flexibility to work through those obstacles (or accomplishments) assists in these goals.

Mr. Wolf studied Music Education and Mathematics at Central Michigan University where he studied viola under Stanley Chepaitis and Seunghee Lee. Mr. Wolf has also studied at numerous college and universities and had the pleasure of studying viola with Cynthia Kemph, Jon Wilcox and Susan Brennis along with countless master classes. He is sought after as a guest clinician and guest conductor for local symphonies and school orchestras. He currently serves as an Adjudicator for the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association and is on the state committee for music selection for orchestras. He is a member of the American String Teachers Association. Mr. Wolf recently was nominated as MSBOA District 4 Orchestra Teacher of the year for 2016 and is a finalist for the state’s honor.

Mr. Wolf has has a masters in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. Mr. Wolf enjoys taking classes, cooking, golf, running, conducting, performing, MSU football and traveling with his wife Leigh.

BBOB Website

The purpose of the Traub Scholarship is to enable students of good character who show special proficiency or promise of achievement in art or music to enjoy a trip abroad following graduation from high school and before entering college. The intent of the scholarship is to contribute to the cultural enrichment of the recipients and not necessarily to advance their technical education in art or music.

Traub Scholarship Brochure

Band and Orchestra Website

All BHHS choirs participate in MSVMA events such as Chamber Choir Festival, Solo & Ensemble, and Choral Festival. The five BHHS choirs are made up of the Black Hawk Singers, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, The Jills, and Vocalise.

The Jills and Chamber Choirs are audition-based groups comprised of junior and senior students and these groups tour the community, providing music at various events. The Jills and Chamber Choirs have sung at numerous regional events, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their Home for the Holidays program and at Greenfield Village for their Holiday Nights program.

Follow @BHHSChoirs on Twitter! 

2019-2020 BHHS Choir & Drama Calendar

Jessica Riley is an Oakland University graduate, having received a degree and teaching certificate in Music Education K-12 in 2004. She received her Master of Science in Education - Integrating Technology K-12 in 2010. Mrs. Riley began teaching in Bloomfield Hills Schools in 2005 and has worked at Bloomfield Hills Middle School, Lahser High School, East Hills Middle School, and Bloomfield Hills High School. She has been playing the piano since the age of four and has been actively involved in community theatre productions throughout Oakland County, serving as both musical director and accompanist. Having been a member of MSMVA for her tenure in the district, Jessica's students have performed at Solo & Ensemble, Chamber Choir Festival and Choral Festival many times, receiving wonderful ratings in not only performance but sight reading. Since 2013, along with many caroling gigs, Mrs. Riley, Bloomfield Chorale, and The Jills performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their "Home for the Holidays" program. During the 2014 “Home for the Holidays” concerts, Jessica was fortunate enough to conduct while the students sang "Silent Night." For the past few years, Mrs. Riley has been singing with the Oakland University Symphony Chorus, performing Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" in 2014 and Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna" in 2015; both on stage at Orchestra Hall.

Choral Boosters Board:

• DIRECTOR: Jessica Riley
• PRESIDENT: Nancy Recknagel
• VICE PRESIDENT: Megan Johnston
• SECRETARY: Beth Rubin
• TREASURER: Dina Stavropoulos
• CONCERT UNIFORMS: Jessica Rankin
• HOSPITALITY: Emily Eichenhorn & Megan Johnston 

Meeting Dates:

• October 7
• November 11
• December 9
• January 13
• February 24
• March 16
• April 20
• May 11
• June 8

The Performing Arts Boosters is made up of Bloomfield Hills High School Choral and Theatre parents. We work together to support the efforts of our directors, Mrs. Jessica Riley (music) and Ms. Bogrette (theatre), and our students for performances and competition events throughout the year. Our funding and volunteer efforts enhance the choral and theatre programs. Funds raised by the Performing Arts Boosters help cover transportation costs, subsidize Solo & Ensemble fees, pay clinicians and accompanists, provide enrichment programs, and purchase vocal music and theatre equipment and supplies.

The BHHS Choral and Theatre Booster Meetings take place on the same day. Choral Boosters begins at 7:00 p.m. followed by Theatre Boosters at 7:30 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, meetings take place in the glass conference room across from the fireplace. 

Choral Boosters Website