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Audition for an Honor Band

Dear Students,

 

It’s that time of year where we start thinking about auditions for county, state, and regional honor bands.  We have a lot of students who are very enthusiastic toward honor bands, but many students either don’t know about honor band opportunities or are apprehensive about preparing for an audition.  While honor band auditions are certainly optional (not graded), everyone in band should consider challenging themselves to complete an audition.  You can also earn a Varsity Band letter by being accepted into an honor band (see the band handbook for details).  I STRONGLY urge Wind Ensemble members (and percussionists who play with Wind Ensemble) and upperclassmen to prepare and submit at least one audition.

 

Honor bands are a fantastic way to challenge your own abilities, meet music students from outside of Hockinson, get introduced to world-renowned composers/conductors/professors, add items of distinction to job and college applications, earn points toward lettering in band, and are just a great way to have fun playing music!

 

There will soon be a sign-up sheet currently posted in the band room for recording WIBC and All-Northwest honor band auditions.  Please be sure to claim a spot sooner rather than later.  Recording times start September 28!

 

Keep in mind that any audition fees are covered by the HHS Music Boosters, so there’s no money out-of-pocket to audition.  If you are accepted, there are varying amounts of registration fees for each band (depending on location and number of days/nights).  The Music Boosters will also cover up to $5,000 of honor band costs to be split amongst all honor band participants.  Depending on the number of students who audition and selected, this could cover part or all of your honor band costs.

 

I would encourage ALL of you to take a look at the honor band information below and consider auditioning for one or more groups.  If you choose to record your auditions here at school using one of the practice rooms, please fill out this form as soon as you record so I can download the recordings:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGLpeumg2w0liY4112GFH9azeuBjgMQrTzMkyT4VrwRfNRqg/viewform?usp=sf_link

 

 

LCRMEA Honor Band

Audition Deadline:  September 20 at 9:00am

Registration Cost:  $40

Dates:  Rehearsals 10/1, 10/3, 10/9 – 5-8pm and 10/10 9am-3pm, Concert 10/11 – 6pm

Location:  Mt. View HS

Transportation:  Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)

Audition Materials and More Information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CAZzUBwoTt1ZV5AHki0Q2Rx3GRQER-PG/view?usp=sharing (same as WIBC material)

Description:  This honor band is open to students from Clark County.  Students will be placed in 1 honor band and rehearse with a guest conductor.  Very affordable and no overnight commitments since it is local.  Students must be able to make it to all rehearsals to participate.

Western International Band Clinic Honor Bands

Audition Deadline:  October 11 at 11:59pm

Participation Cost:  $450 (participation fee and hotel)

Dates:  Friday, November 22 – Monday, November 25 (missing 1 day of school)

Location:  DoubleTree Hotel, Seatac, WA

Transportation:  Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)

Audition Materials and More Information:  https://bandworld.org/WIBC/View.aspx?p=WIBC_Audition (can also submit All-State Concert Band or Wind Symphony audition materials)

Description:  Students will be placed in one of four 175-person honor bands and rehearse with several conductors from Friday evening to Monday morning with a concert Monday afternoon.  Guest artists also perform evening concerts throughout the weekend which students can attend.  This is the most popular honor band I sent students to, and a GREAT honor band for those who have never done an honor band.  Several students attend this honor band multiple years in a row.

 

NAfME All-Northwest Small Schools Wind Symphony

Audition Deadline:  October 2 at 9:00am

Registration Cost:  $340 (participation fee, food) HOTEL NOT INCLUDED

SCHOLARSHIP:  COMPLETE THE SCHOLARSHIP PACKET IN THIS PROGRAM IF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED AND TURN IN WITH YOUR AUDITION https://wmea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WA-HS-ApplicationPacketFINAL.pdf

Dates:  Friday, February 14 – Saturday, February 15 (Presidents’ Day weekend)

Location:  Spokane

Transportation:  Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)

Audition Materials: https://wmea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2025-HS-NW-Wind-Symphony-%E2%88%9A.pdf 

More Information:  https://wmea.org/student-events/2025-honor-groups-auditions-open/#HIGHSCHOOL-OPEN

Description:  This state honor band is open to students from all public schools 2A and smaller.  Students will be placed in one band of about 100-150 musicians in size.  Rehearsals start Friday afternoon and continue to Saturday afternoon, with a concert Saturday evening.  One conductor per group, usually a renowned university conductor.  The audition material for this honor band is EXACTLY THE SAME as the Hockinson HS Wind Ensemble audition materials, so if you’re in Wind Ensemble I HIGHLY urge you to complete this audition.

 

WMEA All-State Concert Band and Jazz Band

 

Audition Deadline:  October 2 at 9:00am

Registration Cost:  $340 (participation fee, food) HOTEL NOT INCLUDED

SCHOLARSHIP:  COMPLETE THE SCHOLARSHIP PACKET IN THIS PROGRAM IF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED AND TURN IN WITH YOUR AUDITION https://wmea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WA-HS-ApplicationPacketFINAL.pdf

Dates:  Jazz Band Thursday, February 13 – Friday, February 14; Concert Band Friday, February 14 – Saturday, February 15

Location:  Spokane

Transportation:  Carpool/fly with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)

Audition Materials and More Information: https://wmea.org/student-events/2025-honor-groups-auditions-open/#HIGHSCHOOL-OPEN

Description:  This honor band is open to students from all Washington public schools.  Students will be placed in one of two concert bands of about 100-150 musicians in size, or 1 jazz band of about 20 musicians.   For the jazz band, rehearsals start Thursday afternoon and continue to Friday afternoon, with a concert Friday evening. For the concert band, rehearsals start Friday afternoon and continue to Saturday afternoon, with a concert Saturday evening.  One conductor per group, usually a renowned university conductor.  I recommend this honor band for those who have made it into WIBC or the All-State Wind Symphony before and are looking for an additional challenge, but the audition is not to be taken lightly.  It is highly competitive.

 

Pacific Lutheran University NW High School Honor Band

Application Deadline:  October 1

Registration Cost:  $125 registration, plus approx. $100 for hotel (depends on # of HHS students accepted)

Dates:  Thursday, January 4 – Saturday, January 6

Location:  Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, WA

Transportation:  Carpool with Mr. McEnry

Audition Materials:  If you wish to be considered for this honor band, please complete this form:  https://forms.gle/Nv3MJqdB99EX6SCm6

More Information:  https://www.plu.edu/music/workshops/northwest-high-school-honor-band/

Description:  Students are accepted based on their accomplishments and director’s recommendation.  Hotel accommodations are arranged through me, and we often split rooms with Washougal HS students to bring the cost down.  If selected, students will perform a live audition on the first day of the event for chair placement in one of three 100-person concert bands.  The concert is Saturday evening at PLU.  One conductor per group, usually a renowned university conductor.  I recommend applying for this honor band if you are a junior or senior, as preference usually seems to be given to upperclassmen.

 

North County Honor Band

Application Deadline:  TBA (early October)

Registration Cost:  $50 (registration fee and food)

Dates:  Friday, February 7 – Saturday, February 8

Location:  Hockinson High School

Application Materials:  Watch for an application in the coming weeks

Description:  A local honor band made up of students from Hockinson, Prairie, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, La Center, Woodland, Camas, and Washougal high schools.  Students are selected based on an application detailing their musical accomplishments and director’s recommendation.  Rehearsals happen Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday afternoon with a concert at HHS Saturday evening.  One conductor per group, usually a university conductor from a major Oregon or Washington university.  I HIGHLY recommend everyone apply for this honor band.  In past years, the honor band has been made up of more Hockinson students than any other school.  Most years it’s more than 30 HHS students!

Corey McEnry

Band Director

Hockinson High School | (360) 448-6450 x5594

Band Website | Facebook | HHS Website

Preparing all students for lifelong success.

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