Eastern Illinois University :: Department of Music

35th Annual HS Honor Band Festival

Saturday, December 10, 2022—8:30am-5:15pm

Applying to participate requires an online application and video audition.

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

The EIU HS Honor Band festival will bring 55-65 of the best high school band students around Illinois and Indiana to campus for a day of rehearsals, masterclasses, a faculty recital, and a culminating concert conducted by EIU band director, Dr. Alicia Neal

To be considered for the High School Honor Band, students must submit an audition video and an online application. The video audition procedure is similar to the Illinois 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 submission instructions are below.

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

Click here to see a schedule for the day.

HS Honor Band Wind Symphony Audition Procedures:

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.

Here is the link to submit your online application and video audition. You will be asked to copy and paste a YouTube audition link at the end of your application form. Please do not click this link and complete the form until your video is ready to upload.

Honor Band Festival Audition Application and Video Link

Acceptance and Payment:

All students who auditioned will be notified via e-mail by Monday, November 7th 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.