Clinicians

Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, Director of Bands
California State University, Fresno

Dr. Barry Kraus, Director of Bands
Belmont University

Quintus F. Wrighten, Associate Director of Bands
University of Memphis

The University of Memphis Bands and the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music are pleased to announce the 22nd Annual High School Honor Band Festival.  The event will be held on February 10 – 11, 2012 at the University of Memphis campus. We invite you to begin nominating your most outstanding students to participate in a significant weekend of rehearsals, clinics, master classes and concerts. Please read the following materials carefully and we look forward to receiving your nominations and seeing you in February.

In addition to working with the outstanding clinicians listed above, your students will attend master classes by the University of Memphis School of Music faculty, and a concert by the Wind Ensemble. Directors are highly encouraged to attend the clinics designed especially for them presented by guest conductors. The Festival will conclude with a performance of the three honor bands on Saturday, February 11th.

• Complete the online nomination form
• Nominate ONLY those students who will be able to participate if selected
• Indicate the ranking order for your students on the form

The first student musician from each school ranked by the high school band director will automatically be selected.  Please be careful when nominating percussionists and saxophonists with a ranking of first.  Remember that we are obligated to take those students nominated first by you and that we can accept only a limited number of students in those sections. Students from each school ranked second will probably be selected depending on the total number nominated, musical awards and achievements, and instrumentation needs. Others from each school will be selected to balance instrumentation based upon your nomination and their musical honors, awards, and/or achievements.

After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email with the submitted information. Students selected for the Honor Bands should plan to arrive on campus the morning of Friday, February 10.  Auditions for band, part assignment, and chair placement will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 

DEADLINE FOR FORMS TO BE SUBMITTED: MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012

Letters to directors and student-musicians will be mailed in mid-December.  The list of music to be performed and final instructions will be forwarded at that time.

Please note: Each student will be charged a $25.00 participation fee that will include dinner on Friday evening and an Honor Band Patch.  This amount will be collected in advance with one combined payment from each school after student musician selections have been completed.

Please make arrangements for lodging soon.  We will be happy to assist you in finding hotels in the Memphis area with good rates for students and directors if you need them.

We hope you will plan to nominate students to participate in the U of M Honor Bands Festival.  We look forward to receiving your nominations.