The University of Missouri - Kansas City
Conservatory of Music and Dance presents...
Midwest Honor Band Festival and Symposium
January 15th — 17th, 2009
Dear Director,
The UMKC Midwest Honor Band Festival and Symposium is designed to provide rewarding musical experiences for middle and high school band students and band directors alike. The festival will annually feature nationally recognized guest conductors and resident UMKC faculty in a busy schedule of concerts, master classes, and professional clinics. This is a wonderful opportunity both for in-service time and for personal growth. The festival and symposium will begin at noon on Thursday and will conclude by 5pm on Saturday.
The Midwest Honor Bands are comprised of students from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Arkansas and beyond. Selection is based on band director recommendation, past achievements, and a balanced instrumentation. The total membership in the four Honor Bands will be approximately 400 performers. Every effort will be made to include at least one student from each school that submits an application. We are also asking that you look into submitting string bass players and even piano players whom you think are qualified.
The Symposium will become an eagerly anticipated event for band directors in the Midwest area. This year's conducting package includes clinic sessions with each of the guest conductors, and sessions with Steven D. Davis, Director of Bands at UMKC, as well as with Joe Parisi, Associate Director of Bands at UMKC. The Festival Finale, which includes the four Honor Bands, concludes the Festival on Saturday afternoon, January 17th.
Students selected for the Honor Bands must provide their own transportation to Kansas City as well as meals, with the exception of breakfasts. The $150 participation fee covers the cost of lodging at the Q Hotel and Spa for Thursday and Friday nights, transportation to and from rehearsal and concert sites, banquet, souvenir T-Shirt, and all instructional expenses. Students will be fully chaperoned by UMKC graduate assistants and staff at all times.
Nominations by band directors (only) are to be submitted online by Monday, October 13th. Selected Honor Band participants for the weekend event will be listed on this website by Wednesday, October 22th. After being selected, the participant $150 registration fee must be received on or before Monday, November 17th. On Thursday, January 15th all attending Honor Band participants will audition for chair placements for each of the bands. Primary consideration is placed on sight reading, scales, and a prepared piece; an etude from your state's All-State material would be an excellent choice. Percussionists should be prepared to audition for each of the percussion areas (snare, mallets, timpani).
We fully understand that it is difficult to get time off from your teaching duties, but we do hope you will make a very serious effort to attend this year's Festival, and remember that the conducting clinics are a good way to accumulate in-service points toward re-certification. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I hope to see you here in Kansas City for the weekend activities.
Sincerely,
Steven D. Davis
