The University Bands is proud to announce the Sixth Annual Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival will be held at the University of Alabama from December 13-14, 2018. The Alabama 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.
THE HONOR BANDS
This year, we will seat two middle school honor bands (Crimson and White) at the festival. The Festival Honor Bands will be made up of equal strength musicians. Students will be placed alternately in the festival honor bands. Our staff feels that this provides the best experience for all participants.
Crimson Middle School Ensemble
Michael Oare, Composer and Director of Bands, Great Bridge Middle School
Chesapeake, Virginia
White Middle School Ensemble
Jim Peacock, Director of Bands, Germantown Middle School
Madison, Mississippi
Muscle Shoals Middle School Symphonic Band
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Mabry Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Symphonic Band
Marietta, Georgia
Jill Barnocki, Conductor
Thompson Middle School Symphonic Band
Alabaster, Alabama
Michael Chambless, Conductor
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS
Students will be selected by a committee of University of Alabama School of Music faculty. Information included on the student application (resume) and the band director’s recommendation will be the primary criteria used to select participants. In most cases, the committee will use the student resume and band director recommendation as sole sources of information about the students. Students and directors are encouraged to complete the resume and recommendation in detail and be sure that the required information is available to us prior to the close of registration. Each director who submits a nomination is guaranteed that at least one student from each school will be selected to participate in the festival. Students who are selected to participate must attend all rehearsals, master classes, and performances during the Honor Band Festival. A list of students chosen to participate in the 2018 Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival will be posted on this website by mid-late November.
HOUSING/MEALS/FEES
The Alabama Middle School Honor Band does not provide housing or meals. Arrangements for housing, supervision, transportation and meals should be taken care of by the high school director. For the 2018 Alabama Middle School Honor Band, students chosen to participate will be required to pay a participation fee of $85.00, which includes admission to all clinics, concerts and participation t-shirt. This participation fee will be due AFTER students have been notified that they have been selected to participate in the Alabama Honor Band. More detailed information will be available to those students selected to participate in the festival.
Middle School Honor Band Event Schedule (TENTATIVE)
Thursday, December 13, 2018
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Check-in and Seating Auditions
1:15 – 1:45 PM Guest Performance Ensemble
1:45 – 2:15 PM Guest Performance Ensemble
2:15 – 2:30 PM Opening Meeting
2:45 – 5:30 PM Rehearsal #1
5:30 – 7:15 PM Dinner Break (on your own)
7:30 – 9:30 PM Rehearsal #2
Friday, December 14, 2018
9:00 – 11:30 AM Rehearsal #3
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch Break (on your own)
1:15 – 1:45 PM Guest Performance Ensemble
1:45 – 2:15 PM Guest Performance Ensemble
2:30 – 3:45 PM Rehearsal #4
4:00 – 5:00 PM Finale Concert
5:00 PM Homeward Bound
