Join us for the 2023 University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band!
The University Bands is proud to announce the Ninth Annual Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival will be held at the University of Alabama from December 14-15, 2023. The Alabama Honor Band Festival is an event developed for the purpose of recognizing the achievements of exceptional middle school musicians.
The Honor Band
Students who apply will be seated into two Middle School Honor Bands.
December is a busy time and have adjusted the schedule to have students finished by 5:30 pm on both days.
This allows students to participate without missing school!
Application Instructions
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY! – Applications will open August 1st, 2023
- Deadline to apply is November 1st, 2023 @ 11:59 PM
- Acceptance will be open to all
- Everyone who applies will be sent an email notification
Selection of Participants
Students who are selected to participate must attend all rehearsals, master classes, and performances during the Honor Band Festival.
Audition Information (in person on the morning of December 14th)
- Chair placements will either be the lyrical or technical etude from this year’s Junior High School Alabama All-State Band audition material
- Percussion: please play ONLY the etude for each instrument: Mallets, Snare, and Timpani.
- 2023 UA MSHB Audition Material will be selected from the 2023-24 Alabama Middle School All-State Material found on https://alaband.org/
Tentative Schedule –
**Start and end times for each day will not change**
Thursday, December 14, 2023
| 7:30 – 9:00 AM | Check-in at Moody Music Building: Room 1000 |
| 8:00 – 10:00 AM | Chair Placement Auditions |
| 10:15 – 10:25 AM | Welcome Meeting in Room 1000 |
| 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch (on your own) |
| 1:30 – 3:00 PM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 3:00 – 4:00 PM | TBD |
| 4:15 – 5:30 PM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 5:30 PM | Dismissal |
Friday, December 15, 2023
| 9:00 – 10:30 AM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 10:45 – 12:15 PM | Instrument Masterclasses with UA Professors |
| 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch (on your own) |
| 1:30 – 3:00 PM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 3:10 PM | Students change into Concert Attire |
| 3:30 PM | Honor Band Rehearsal |
| 4:00 PM | Concert |
| 5:00 PM | Homeward Bound! |
Housing/Meals/Fees
The Alabama Middle School Honor Band does not provide housing or meals. The high school director should take care of arrangements for housing, supervision, transportation, and meals. For the 2023 Alabama Middle School Honor Band, students chosen to participate will be required to pay a fee of $85.00 (non-refundable), including admission to all clinics, concerts, participation t-shirts, name tags, and lapel participation pins.
2023 Guest Clinician
Leah Seng
Leah Seng is in her 21st year of teaching and currently serves at Louis Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. A pianist and clarinetist, Mrs. Seng is a native of Chelsea, Alabama.
During her tenure at Pizitz, the band performed at The Midwest international Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music For All National Middle School Band Festival, Southern Division CBDNA/NBA Conference, Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival and the Alabama Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference as well as been an invited ensemble at the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Troy University and UAB honor band festivals. The band program has received the NBA Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence and the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Cup.
Bands under Mrs. Seng’s direction have been consistently recognized with superior ratings. In 2018, Mrs. Seng was named Pizitz Middle School Teacher of the Year. She served on the staff of the University of Alabama Crimson Music Camp from 2001-2013, and is active as a guest clinician and conductor for middle school bands throughout the region. Mrs. Seng is a board member and clarinetist for the Alabama Winds community band. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the District IV of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. Mrs. Seng has presented clinic sessions at the Alabama Music Educators Association and Alabama All-State Band Festival.
Mrs. Seng holds the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Alabama, Master of Music Education from the University of Georgia, and Educational Specialist in Music Education from the University of Alabama. Her professional affiliations include the National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, and the Alabama Bandmasters Association. In 2022, Mrs. Seng earned National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music.
Leah is married to Jordan, and has two children, Julia and Jordan Jr.