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 5, by 3 PM.  Auditions for the band, part assignment, and chair placement will be held between 3-5 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.

All participants will need to complete a University of Memphis Parental Consent Form to participate.

Conductors

GRAY BAND Dr. Albert Nguyen Gray Band Conductor	BLUE BAND John Burdett Blue Band Conductor	.

Dr. Albert Nguyen

Dr. Albert Nguyen is the Director of Bands at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, where he also leads the Conducting Area and serves as Executive Director of the Summer at the Scheidt Music Camps. His primary responsibilities include overseeing the University Bands Program, conducting the Wind Ensemble, directing the graduate Wind Conducting Program, and teaching graduate-level courses in wind/band repertoire and rehearsal techniques. 

Under Dr. Nguyen’s leadership, the University of Memphis Wind Ensemble has performed at prestigious events including the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conference, the Tennessee Music Education Association (TNMEA) All-State Conference, and international venues in Austria and Italy. He is a sought-after conductor and clinician, having worked with ensembles across the United States, including All-State Bands in Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas. His presentations on leadership, conducting, and rehearsal strategies have been featured at the Midwest Clinic and numerous music educator conferences nationwide. 

Dr. Nguyen began his professional career as Director of Bands at Morrilton High School in Morrilton, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University and both his Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Wind Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin. 

In recognition of his excellence in teaching, creative activity, and service, Dr. Nguyen has been honored with the Pearl Wales Professorship and the First Tennessee Professorship at the University of Memphis. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Bandmasters Association, and currently serves on the Diversity Committee for the College Band Directors National Association. 

John Burdett

As Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Texas State University, Caroline Beatty conducts the Texas State Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind band conducting program, teaches conducting and band literature courses, and provides primary oversight for the comprehensive band program.

Performances under her direction garner consistent accolades from audience members, composers, and fellow performers for their artistry, excitement, and craft. The Texas State University Wind Symphony has been recognized for musical excellence through invitations to perform for the National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, the Southwestern Division of CBDNA, and numerous times for the Texas Music Educators Association.

Dr. Beatty maintains a vibrant conducting and teaching schedule outside of the university.  International engagements include leading the Summer Conducting School for the Australia Band and Orchestra Directors Association as well as the serving as Chief Clinician for the Victoria School Music Festival where she enjoyed connecting with over 80 Australian school bands. Domestic invitations have included opportunities to conduct Concordia Santa Fe, the World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and numerous All-State and regional honor bands. 

Prior to her current position, Dr. Beatty held the position of Associate Director of Bands at Texas State and, earlier, at Northwestern State University-Louisiana. Her secondary school teaching experience includes thirteen years as a high school band director in the Houston area. She holds the DMA degree in Conducting from the University of Michigan and both a MM degree in Conducting and a BM degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Beatty is currently the President of the Southwestern Division of CBDNA and also holds membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu