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Honor Band Festival

February 1-3, 2024

The University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music cordially invites you to the 34th Annual Honor Band Festival.

Experience the magic of music at the 34th Annual Honor Band Festival hosted by the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. This prestigious three-day event brings together talented high school musicians from across the region for a memorable musical experience.

The festival begins with rehearsals led by esteemed conductors, allowing participants to enhance their musical skills and collaborate with their peers. The two Honor Bands, carefully selected from the top high school musicians, will showcase their talent and dedication through inspiring performances.

One of the highlights of the Honor Band is a special performance by the Univeristy Wind Ensemble and Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra for the Honor Band participants, parents and directors. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Nov. 27, 2023 – Nominations Open

  • Jan. 5, 2024 – Nominations Close

  • Feb. 1-3 – Honor Band Festival

  • Feb. 3 – Honor Band Festival Concert at 2 PM at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center

Honor Band Information 

Student Nomination and Selection

We invite high school band directors to nominate student musicians for this exciting experience. The deadline to nominate students is Friday, January 5.

 

Students selected for the Honor Bands must arrive on campus by Thursday, February 1, by 3 PM.  Auditions for the band, part assignment, and chair placement will be held between 3-6 PM.  We use an online application on the Honor Band website to nominate prospective UofM Honor Band members.  Please nominate ONLY those students who will be able to participate if selected.  Students will be selected in the following manner:

  1. Complete the online nomination form. Please indicate the ranking order for your students on the form by entering them in the appropriately numbered tabs.  Enter all students at one time before submitting the form. After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email with your submitted information.  Letters to directors and student musicians will be emailed to directors shortly after the deadline.  The list of music to be performed and final instructions will be forwarded at that time.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY WHEN NOMINATING STUDENTS.
  2. 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 will take those students nominated first by you and can accept only a limited number of students in those sections (saxophone and percussion).
  3. The student from each school ranked second will probably be selected, depending on the nominated number, musical awards and achievements, and instrumentation needs.
  4. Each school's members will be selected to balance instrumentation based on your nomination and their musical honors, awards, and/or achievements.
  5. Audition music: Students are asked to prepare a solo or etude that best displays their ability. They may also play the music prepared for their Music Educators Association tryout: All-West, All-Region, All-State, etc.  Students will be asked to perform scales and sightreading along with the prepared selections.  Percussionists should prepare short excerpts on snare, timpani, and keyboard.

Please note: Each student will be charged a $40 participation fee, including dinner on Friday evening and an Honor Band patch.  This amount will be collected in advance with one combined payment from each school after completing student-musician selections.

We hope you will plan to nominate students to participate in the UofM Honor Band Festival.  We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Conductors

Ben Easley Albert Nguyen  
GRAY BAND
Ben Easley

Gray Band Conductor 
BLUE BAND
Albert Nguyen

Blue Band Conductor
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Benjamin Easley

Benjamin Easley serves as Director of Bands at Nolensville High School in Williamson County. Before opening NHS, Mr. Easley began his Tennessee teaching career at John Overton High School, where the marching band membership increased by 58% during his tenure. Mr. Easley previously served as Associate Band Director at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, where his ensembles achieved the UIL Sweepstakes Award and the Mighty Ram Band performed his original compositions and arrangements as finalists at the 2012 TX UIL 5A State Marching Contest and multiple Bands of America Regional Championships.

Under his leadership, Nolensville Band membership has increased by 450% since its beginning in 2016. In addition to consistently earning unanimous superior ratings at Concert Performance Assessment, Nolensville Band performances include appearances at the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards, ABC World News Tonight With David Muir, Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Nissan Stadium for the Tennessee Titans, and an upcoming TBA Hall of Fame Concert at the 64th Annual Tennessee Music Education Association Professional Development Conference.

A four-time CMA Music Teachers of Excellence recipient and 2018-2019 Nolensville HS Teacher of the Year, Mr. Easley graduated summa cum laude with a B.M. in Trombone Performance, M.M. in Instrumental Conducting, M.M. in Music Education, and M.M. in Music Theory Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Active as a regional adjudicator and freelance composer and arranger, Mr. Easley designs and arranges for high school marching band programs throughout the Southeast. He resides in Nolensville with his wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Ella (8) and Harper (5).

Albert Nguyen

Albert Nguyen is the Director of Bands and Head of the Conducting Area at the University of Memphis. He holds the Pearl Wales Professorship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the University of Memphis in teaching, creative activity, and service. Dr. Nguyen’s responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the University Bands program, conducting the Wind Ensemble, leading the graduate wind conducting program, and serving as the Executive Director of the University of Memphis Summer at the Scheidt Program. Under Dr. Nguyen’s direction, ensembles have performed at the CBDNA Southern Regional Conference, the TNMEA All-State Conference, and Internationally in Austria and Italy. As a conductor and clinician, he has worked with ensembles and students throughout the United States, including the Mid-South, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas. For his contribution to the University of Memphis’s educational, research, outreach, and service missions, Dr. Nguyen was a recipient of the First Tennessee Professorship.

Dr. Nguyen began his professional teaching career as the Director of Bands at Morrilton High School in Morrilton, AR. He holds the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of Kappa Kappa, Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Beta Mu, and serves the College Band Directors National Association as a member of the Diversity Committee.