Apply for the 2023 North County Honor Band!

DOWNLOAD THE NCHB APPLICATION BY CLICKING HERE

 

I’m writing to you in hopes that you will apply for the eighth annual North County Honor Band!  This is not graded, however it does count toward earning a band letter if you are selected.

 

This year’s honor band weekend will take place Friday and Saturday, February 3rd and 4th, 2023.  The groups will rehearse in the late afternoon/evening on Friday as well as the late morning and afternoon Saturday before performing a concert Saturday evening.  The band will rehearse at Hockinson High School, and the performance will also be at HHS at 6pm on Saturday.

 

In order to apply for the North County Honor Band, each student will need to complete this application.  I will complete the second page for you.  In the past, over half of the honor band has been made up of HHS students.  You have a VERY good shot of being selected.

 

Please return applications to me by October 17th.

 

Financial Assistance

ARE YOU A DESERVING STUDENT IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE?  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORM.

 

If you legitimately need some financial help to attend, please fill out the attached financial assistance form and submit it with your application.

 

The financial assistance form will not have any bearing on the selection process.  Students who are selected and request financial assistance will be thrown into a pool and we will do our best to cover what they ask for.

 

Again, PLEASE only submit this form if you need the assistance.  It is not a scholarship.

 

Why apply for the North County Honor Band?

 

It’s Local!

With so much musical talent in our state, our smaller schools and programs often get overlooked when it comes to selection for state and regional honor groups just due to the sheer number of applicants to these groups versus the number selected.  Participating in the North County Honor Band not only gives those students who already play in honor bands another opportunity to grow and be challenged as musicians, but also provides a quality honor band experience for those students who may not always have the opportunity to participate in these state groups.  This is not to say we are lowering the bar for our students; rather, we are striving to give all deserving students a chance to be a part of a high-level honor group.

 

It’s Affordable!

We all have students who are unable to participate in other honor bands due to the cost of these events.  When you factor in travel, lodging, meals, and all the other costs some students end up spending close to $400 for an honor band weekend!  At a price of $50 per student, the North County Honor Band is a bargain.  We simply want a quality and affordable honor band experience for our students.  Your $50 covers all costs for the weekend and includes a t-shirt and two meals for each participant.  The Saturday evening concert is also free to the public.

 

It’s High Quality!

We go to great lengths to try and recruit some of the best teachers, conductors, and personalities to conduct these honor bands.  This year will be no different.

 

NCHB High School Conductor:  Paul Bain

Paul Bain will join the music faculty at Western Washington University this fall as a visiting Assistant Professor of Music and the Interim Director of Bands. He will conduct the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band and teach courses in conducting.

Prior to joining WWU, Paul was Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Central Washington University where he led the instrumental music education program and conducted the CWU Symphonic Winds. Under his leadership, the Symphonic Winds performed at the National Association for Music Education Northwest Division Conference as well at the Washington Music Education Association Conference.

Paul taught in the public schools for 18 years preceding his appointment at CWU. Most recently, he was band director at Graham Kapowsin High School for 13 years where his ensembles performed at numerous music educator conferences and collaborated with many university and international ensembles, including the Tamana High School Band from Tamana, Japan. Graham-Kapowsin and Tamana became sister bands in 2009 and performed together nine times, three in Japan and six in America.

In addition to his work in the public schools, Bain was the musical director of the South Sound Symphonic Band, principal conductor for the Washington Ambassadors of Music and worked with the Tacoma Youth Symphony. He is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator and has conducted numerous honor bands and performances across the country and internationally, including engagements in Japan, England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

A Pacific Northwest native, Paul grew up in Puyallup, WA and was inspired to be a music educator by many of his music teachers and mentors. His primary conducting teachers are Raydell Bradley and Timothy Salzman. He attended Pacific Lutheran University (BME 1999) and the University of Washington (MM 2009). Paul lives with his wife, Gahee, and their two dogs (Low Rider and Chuchis).

 

Thanks!