Programs

The University of Alabama Band Specialty Programs for middle and high school students are offered all throughout the academic year. Ranging from honor bands to marching bands, these programs provide young musicians with top-notch experience and education, as well as an exciting way for students to get involved with the university. For more information on each of our programs, select one of the links below.

Crimson Cavalcade of Bands

This exciting event is sponsored by the Million Dollar Band and provides high school marching bands the opportunity to perform for other area high school bands in a supportive and friendly environment. The unique event allows each band to sit in the audience and watch the other bands in attendance perform their halftime production, while the staff of the Million Dollar Band provides comments and feedback for each group. Don’t miss out on this fantastic performance opportunity!

Middle School Honor Band Festival

The Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival is an event developed for the purpose of recognizing the achievements of exceptional middle school musicians. The festival includes rehearsal/final concert preparations with quality clinicians from successful middle school programs and concerts presented by middle school bands from the Southeast. This year, we will present two outstanding middle school ensembles in concert.

High School Honor Band Festival

The Alabama Honor Band Festival is an event developed for the purpose of recognizing the achievements of exceptional high school musicians. The Festival weekend includes clinics presented by the faculty of the University of Alabama School of Music and concerts presented by the Alabama Symphonic Band, the Alabama Wind Ensemble, and the “SPECTRUM” concert, which features several of our wind and percussion ensembles as well as the 400 member Million Dollar Band. This year, we will present four outstanding high school ensembles in concert, along with the five festival honor bands.

“A” Day with the Million Dollar Band

Any high school students (grades 9th-12th), current MDB members, and MDB Alumni are invited to participate each spring at the annual “A” Day presented by the Alabama Football Team. Participants perform cheers and music with the current MDB members at the “Walk of Champions” ceremony as well as in the stands during the game. This a great way to get an inside look at the MDB and perform at one of the most exciting events at the University. There is a $35 fee to participate. Participants will receive a box lunch and an “A” Day t-shirt to be worn during the game.

Crimson Festival of Winds Concert Band Festival

The Crimson Festival of Winds will be a non-competitive, educational festival designed to showcase the “best of the best” high school and middle school wind bands from across the state of Alabama. There will be no “required music” for the festival and there will be no ratings or placements for the ensembles. Directors will be free to choose literature that allows the ensemble and the director an opportunity for growth. The atmosphere will be one of support and encouragement for each ensemble. Immediately following each band’s performance, one of our outstanding evaluators will work with each ensemble for a 20-minute “hands-on” clinic. Directors will receive recorded critiques from the evaluators along with written comments and a professional recording of the concert. Concert bands earning an overall “superior” rating at an Alabama Bandmasters Association district-level Music Performance Assessment in the spring of 2018 or 2019 will receive an invitation to participate in the Crimson Festival of Winds. We will be able to accept the first 32 ensembles that apply. Registration will open in late summer 2018 for our premiere festival. Make plans to be a part of this exciting new festival that will promote Alabama’s finest concert bands!

Crimson Music Camps

Students enrolled in one of our camps will be under the leadership and guidance of the artist-faculty members of the University of Alabama School of Music. Joining the UA faculty will be guest faculty members recognized as expert leaders in the field of instrumental music education. Each member of our camp leadership team and faculty will work diligently to ensure that each student receives the highest quality camp experience. Our camps offer small group sectionals and coaching, specialized courses, and master classes…all this while spending time sharing music, leadership ideas, and creative choreography with some of the most outstanding musicians and teachers in the country. We also provide our campers with a Crimson Music Camp t-shirt and a fantastic finale performance. Don’t miss it!