The University of Utah High School Honor Band
Thank you for your interest in the University of Utah High School Honor Band, providing a premier musical experience for students from across Utah and the surrounding area.
Our goal is to enhance the opportunity students receive in their school band program by allowing them to meet and perform with other students. Participants benefit from master classes with University of Utah faculty and rehearse as an ensemble for two days. At the end of the festival, students present a full-length concert that demonstrates their growth and development.
Dec. 6-7, 2024
Guest Conductor: Dr. Jason Missal, Director of Bands, The University of Utah
Students need to fill out and submit their audition in the application above.
There is no fee to audition. If selected, the particpation cost is $40 per student.
Audition
Students will record and digitally submit their auditions. All audition submissions must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
- Before playing your audition, clearly state your name, grade, school, and auditioning instrument.
- Perform two major scales of the player’s choice, two octaves, in sixteenth notes with a tempo no slower than quarter note=60.
- Perform a chromatic scale of the player’s choice, two octaves, in straight eighth notes, quarter note=80.
- Perform musical selections that demonstrate technical and lyrical ability (two etudes or a standard solo recommended). You may use the Utah All-State Audition Etudes , or you may select your own etudes/solo.
*Students proficient on more than one instrument in the same family (flute/piccolo, Bb clarinet/bass clarinet, saxophones, trombones, etc.) should submit a separate audition on each instrument using separate audition recordings.
*Percussion students should submit a recording that includes etudes on snare drum, mallets, and timpani.
Please note that chair placement within the ensemble will be based on the initial audition.
- Record your audition as one video file.
- Record all parts of your audition (scales and etudes/solo) in a single, continuous take.
- Do not add any reverb or alter the recording in any way.
- No metronome allowed in the recording.
If you have questions regarding audition requirements, please contact us at honorband@music.utah.edu
Directors will receive a list of students selected for the High School Honor Band and all students will be notified by Nov. 8, 2024. Selected students are expected to attend all scheduled programming and activities on Dec. 6-7, 2024, including the Friday evening University of Utah Prism Concert. Parents are responsible for transportation, lodging and supervision at all other times during the High School Honor Band weekend.
Option 1: Unlisted YouTube link
- Record all parts of your audition (all scales and excerpts) in one continuous take. Recording parts of your audition in separate takes and splicing these takes together into one file is prohibited! Do not alter your audition recording in any way (do not add reverb, etc.). You may of course put your instrument down in- between the various parts of your audition, but make sure that the camera is running the entire time.
- Prepare your recording for YouTube. We understand that some high school students like to make audio-only recordings of their audition. If this is the case for you, to turn your audio recording into a video file, you may use basic video software on your device (such as iMovie), or free online programs such as Veed. Here is one example of how to convert an audio file into a video format.
- Turning your audio file into a video will require you to create some sort of image or title card for the audio file to exist in a video format. You may list your name and instrument on the title card, or even use a blank screen/solid color. The visual component of your video does NOT need to be fancy, and you will not be scored on the visual aspects of the video. You are of course welcome to submit a video file to begin with.
- Upload your audition recording to YouTube as an unlisted video and copy & paste your YouTube link when prompted on the application form. Please make sure that your video is set to unlisted and NOT private. If the video is set to private, our judges will be unable to access your recording, and your audition will not be scored. Please see this tutorial for a step-by-step guide on creating unlisted YouTube videos.
- Please title the video with your Lastname_Firstname_instrument.
Option 2: Google Drive link
- Record all parts of your audition (all scales and excerpts) in one continuous take. Recording parts of your audition in separate takes and splicing these takes together into one file is prohibited! Do not alter your audition recording in any way (do not add reverb, etc.). You may of course put your instrument down in between the various parts of your audition, but make sure that the recording device is running the entire time.
- Upload your audition recording to your personal Google Drive, and title the video with your Lastname_Firstname_Instrument.
- Once the video is in your Google Drive, click on the file and click “share.” Under “General Access,” click the drop-down arrow, and select “Anyone with the link.” If you do not select this setting, our judges will be unable to access your recording, and your audition will not be scored.
- Click the “Copy link” button and then paste this link when prompted to do so on the application form.
Schedule
Rehearsals and performances will take place at The University of Utah. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, immediately followed by masterclasses and rehearsals during the day and the U of U Prism Concert that evening. The High School Honor Band will rehearse from approximately 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, and will perform a concert in Libby Gardner Concert Hall that evening.
Concert attire for high school students
Option 1: Black Long-Sleeved Shirt, Black slacks, Black Socks, Black Dress Shoes
Option 2: Floor-Length Black Skirt, Black Slacks, or Floor-Length Black Dress; Long-Sleeved Black Blouse, Black Dress Shoes. No bare shoulders, necklines, or midriffs.