Our guest artists this year are composers Kimberly Archer and Aaron Perrine. Both will be here to give clinics and conduct several of their compositions.
Nominations are now CLOSED for this year's UMD Senior High Honor Band Festival
For more information and final details: Letter from Dr. Whitlock
On Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Department of Music is pleased to be hosting its Sixty-Sixth Annual Senior High Honor Band Festival. As always, our hope is to provide you and your students with the best experience possible. This year there will be two bands, the Gold Band and the Maroon Band. We will keep membership for the Gold Band to around 65-70 members.
THE GOLD BAND
This year I (Mark Whitlock) will conduct the Gold Band. As always, I am extremely anxious to work with your talented students. Membership in this band should be limited to only the best musicians in the state. In most cases, students should have been members of one of the All-State bands, be in the first section of your band and/or have received a "1" rating at solo and ensemble contest. If you have a student that you feel is truly outstanding please submit their name. Be sure to document the student's accomplishments. Students not selected for this band will automatically be considered for the Maroon Band.
THE MAROON BAND
This ensemble will be conducted by Becky Weiland. Becky is the Director of Bands at Centennial High School. She is a wonderful music educator and person. I am so pleased that she will be working with the students that will be in the Maroon Band. I can assure you that she’ll do wonderful work with your students, and I know they will enjoy her very much. I am asking that you recommend other outstanding students from your band program for this ensemble. Your strongest juniors and seniors, other students who have attended honors bands or students who are serious musicians in your program should be considered.
Nominations are now CLOSED
This year we are requesting that nominations for the Senior High Honor Band be done on-line at our UMD Bands web site. Please, if at all possible try to use this method of submitting nominations. We would appreciate this very much!
Note for Percussionists:
Please be specific about percussionist's strengths (timpani, mallets, snare, etc.) and also indicate whether the baritone players read bass clef or treble clef.
Please nominate only students who have expressed an interest in participating and who can guarantee they will attend if selected. We would like to make this event as musical and memorable as possible, so a commitment is essential.
Dates to keep in mind:
Entry Deadline: Monday, October 13th
Results Notification: Monday, October 23rd
HOUSING (Please Read and Notice Changes)
Things have changed a bit in Duluth regarding the hotel availability and costs. The Edgewater is not available as it is under construction.
I have connected with The Country Inn and Suites, and they are giving us a rate of $169.00 per night with up to 4 students per room. The good news is that there is no requirement for a two-night stay. You may just stay one night if that is your preference. The rooms will be available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night of that weekend.
The hotel offers a free breakfast and has a pool. You may pay for your room upon arrival at the hotel. When you call, please mention that you are making reservations for the UMD Honor Band Festival. For more information, please call Anita or Deb at 218-740-4500. Below is a link to their website.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Duluth, MN
4257 Haines Rd, Duluth, MN, 55811 - $169 per room per night.
AmericInn by Wyndham Duluth
901 Joshua Avenue, Duluth, Minnesota 55811 - $159.00 - per room per night
+1-218-723-8607
Our Honor Band Philosophy
The purpose of this festival is to give the best students in your program a chance to participate in an ensemble that not only performs well but provides the students an opportunity to learn more about music and hopefully inspire them to become more excited about music. While we want bands that play well at the concert, we are more concerned about what your students learn while they are here at UMD. The level of performance does not always reflect what has been learned. Having said that, I would like you to consider the following when you are nominating your students.
- Nominate only those who you know have achieved a level of skill beyond beginner level.
- Please nominate students who have good attitudes and want to learn.
- Please nominate students who want to work hard.
- Nominate those who will appreciate the opportunity you/we are providing them and want to take there experiences back home to help improve your program.
The Gold Band
Membership in this ensemble should be limited to only the best musicians in the state. In most cases, students should have been members of one of the All-State ensembles, be in the first section of your band and/or have received a "1" rating at solo and ensemble contest. If you have a student that you feel is truly outstanding you may submit their name. Be sure to document the student’s accomplishments. Students not selected for this band will automatically be considered for the Maroon Band.
The Maroon Band
I am asking that you recommend other outstanding students from your band program for this ensemble. Your strongest juniors and seniors, other students who have attended honor bands or students who are serious musicians in your program should be considered.
The UMD Faculty will also be on hand to give clinics and performances throughout the weekend. A more complete biography is available in the honor band information packet. I am looking forward to having the chance to meet your fine students. All of us at UMD sincerely hope that you can find the time to become involved with this special festival.
If you have questions or problems nominating your students, please email: [email protected]
For daily up-dates and further information on our Senior High School Honor Band Festival visit us HERE
Payment Information:
There will be a $25.00 charge per student for participation in the UMD Senior High Honor Band Festival.
We want to encourage all band directors to please make payments online at our UMD Music Store prior to the start of the event, Friday, November 3rd. For alternate payment options, please contact Dee Charles, [email protected]
For more information, contact:
Mark Whitlock, Director of Bands
Office: 218.726.6124
Fax: 218.726.8210
[email protected]
212 Humanities Building
1201 Ordean Court
Duluth, MN 55812