SIUE Bi-State Honor Band Festival 2024

January 12-13^th 2024

 Band Directors and Music Educators from the Greater St. Louis Area

Once again, SIUE Bands is proud to announce a new edition of its Bi-State Honor Band Festival scheduled for January 12-13, 2024, on the beautiful campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

As it has been for more than 30 years, the primary goal of the SIUE Bi-State Honor Band Festival is to provide a rewarding musical and personal experience to all our students. As occurred during the last two years, auditions and seating assignments will occur in virtual mode.

This year the event will include:

• Three bands
• Guest conductors
• SIUE Wind Symphony in concert
• Masterclasses with the SIUE Faculty
• Sessions for band directors
  

Please read the following information carefully and encourage your students to be a part of this unique event.

Sign-Up

Directors will register their students by filling out the following form:

Auditions

• Auditions for all three festival bands (Cougar, Red, and White Bands), will occur in December and will take place in virtual mode.
• On the registration form, band directors will paste the student’s audition via YouTube links.
• This audition will serve for acceptance into the festival as well as for seating placement.

Audition material

Audition Materials

Same As Last Year: To facilitate the audition process, students from each state (Illinois and Missouri) will audition with a different set of materials; we will use selections from the All-State/All District materials of each state. So please look at the audition material and find the appropriate excerpts for YOUR state.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to submit the entire audition material, especially to be considered for the top band (AKA Cougar Honor Band). Partial auditions will be accepted for those students not feeling prepared to record the entire material. These students will be considered for the Red and White bands. Regardless the level of the students, the organization of the SIUE Bi-State Festival promotes a positive and fun learning experience for every student.

Deadline:

Directors must submit their students’ registration form and audition by December 9, 2023. Results and all three bands’ configurations will be announced on December 16, 2023. The results will be announced via e-mail to all band directors participating in the festival.

Fee:

Each student admitted to the festival will need to pay $45.00. This fee will be paid on the first day of the event during registration. Students or directors can pay in cash or make checks payable to SIUE BANDS.

Schedule overview:

December 9, 2023

Deadline to send registration forms and audition videos.

December 16, 2023

Audition results are announced.

Bi-State Festival, Day 1: Friday, January 12^th

• 2:30 – 3:30 PM      Registration (All students)
• 3:30 – 5:30 PM       Rehearsals begin (All bands)
• 5:30 - 6:30 PM        Dinner on your own
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM       Rehearsals continue (all bands)
• 9:00 PM                    End of day 1

 Bi-State Festival, Day 2: Saturday, January 13^th

• 8:30 AM                    Rehearsals begin (all bands)
• 9:00 – 11:00 AM     Sessions for conductors
• 11:30 AM                  Cougar band rehearsal ends
• 11:45 AM                  Red band rehearsal ends
• Noon                         White Band rehearsal ends
• Noon – 1:00 PM     Lunch on your own
• 1:00 PM                    SIUE Wind Symphony Concert (Dunham Hall Theater)
• 2:00 – 3:00 PM       Student Clinic/Masterclasses with SIUE Faculty
• 3:15 – 5:15 PM       Final Rehearsal (all bands)
• 5:15 PM                    Rehearsals end, dinner on your own, students dress for concerts
• 5:45 – 7:45 PM       Concerts
• 7:45 PM                    End of the festival