Eastern Illinois University :: Department of Music

34th Annual HS Honor Band Festival

Saturday, December 11, 2021—8:30am-5:30pm

Audition Video Submision deadline is 9:00pm on Friday, October 22, 2021

Saturday, December 11, 2021—8:30am-5:30pm

The EIU HS Honor Band festival will bring 55-65 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 Director of Bands, Dr. Alicia Neal. Because of continued concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, this year's honor band will run as one single ensemble that requires a video audition for acceptance. Participating students will receive lunch, a t-shirt, and all instruction and materials for only $25/student. All-State students from 2020-2021 pay only $10. Participants will also be treated to a performance by the EIU Wind Symphony.

Audition Procedure:

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

#1 Students should 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 (mostl 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.

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.

Students, click HERE to complete the online application form and upload your YouTube audition video link.

Honor Band Day Schedule

Full Schedule is coming soon.

Payment

Payment should be postmarked by Wednesday, December 1. 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. 2020-2021 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.