Eastern Illinois University :: Department of Music

35th Annual HS Honor Band Festival

Saturday, December 10, 2022—8:30am-6:00pm

Acceptance is granted by application and video audition, or by application and director recommendation.

Audition Video Submision deadline is 10:00pm on Friday, October 29, 2022

The EIU HS Honor Band festival will bring 120 of the best high school band students to campus for a day of rehearsals, masterclasses, a faculty recital, and a culminating concert conducted by EIU band directors, Dr. Alicia Neal and Prof. David Boggs.

To be considered for the HS Honor Band Wind Symphony, students must submit an audition video and an online application. The video audition procedure is similar to the All-State audition video submission, and using the same video is encouraged. For those who did not audition for All-State, alternative audition material and instructions are below. Those students who only wish to participate in the HS Honor Band Concert Band should complete an online application, and have their band director submit an online recomendation form. Students who do not complete the audition video submission will only be considered for participation in the HS Honor Band Concert Band.

All participating students will receive lunch, a t-shirt, and all instruction and materials for only $25/student. All-State students from 2021-2022 pay only $10. Following the two honor band performances, participants will also hear a performance by the EIU Wind Symphony.

HS Honor Band Concert Band (non-auditioned group):

Students, submit online application form here.

Band directors, submit online recommendation form here.

HS Honor Band Wind Symphony (auditions required for consideration):

There are two ways for students to audition for the EIU HS Honor Band.

#1 Students must complete a short, online form (linked below). At the end of the form the student will be asked to submit a link to their ILMEA District Festival audition video. If a student would prefer to re-film their video to audition for the festival, that is fine. Simply follow the instructions outlined for the original video submission.
#2 Students who would like to audition for the EIU HS Honor Band but did not audition or prepare the music for the ILMEA band instrument auditions are invited to prepare different audition material. Please click the link for your instrument at the bottom of this page. The link will take you to a packet which contains detailed audition and submission instructions. Essentially, students will prepare 4 major scales, a full range chromatic scale, and a few short excerpts from a piece, or two, of the music we will (most likely) perform at the festival. Then, the student should record their video, upload it to YouTube (instructions are provided in the packet), and complete the short, online form linked below.

Students auditioning for Honor Band Wind Symphony, click here (coming soon) to submit your application. You will be asked to copy and paste your YouTube audition link at the end of your application form.

Acceptance and Payment:

All students who auditioned will be notified via e-mail in the first week in November regarding their acceptance into the group. Directors of selected students will also be notified via e-mail.

Once students are notified of their participation in the Honor Band Festival, payment should be postmarked by Wednesday, November 30. If extenuating circumstances arise with regards to the payment deadline, please contact Dr. Neal directly via email at: amneal2@eiu.edu

The cost is $25/student. 2021-2022 All-State members are $10/student. Checks should be made out to "EIU." Please mail payments to:

EIU Band Program, Attn: HS Honor Band Festival, 2620 Doudna, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920.