2025 USA Concert Honor Band Registration Information
Welcome to the 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Registration Page!
The 2025 USA Concert Honor Band will be held on Friday, February 21st - Saturday, February 22nd on the campus of the University of South Alabama at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. Students who have navigated to this page should have received email confirmation of their acceptance.
Our featured guest conductor for the USA Concert Honor Band is Dr. Tony Marinello, Director of Bands at Illinois State University. Dr. Marinello has served on the faculty of Virginia Tech, the University of Texas, and has led the band program at Illinois State since 2017 where he has been instrumental in the development of the program and commissioning of new music, including Omar Thomas's Come Sunday. We are looking forward to having Dr. Marinello on campus!
Accepted Students Listing
A listing of accepted students for the 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival is provided below. If you are not able to participate please make sure to email Dr. Will Petersen at wpetersen@southalabama.edu as soon as possible so we may offer your position to a student on the waitlist.
2025 USA Concert Honor Band Accepted Students List
Registration Information
Congratulations on your selection to the 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival! You have been selected to participate in this event both on the strength of your application along with your achievements thus far in your high school music career. Please read carefully below in order to successfully register for the 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival.
2025 Welcome Packet (This includes your Welcome Letter and Schedule)
To complete your registration you must do the following:
Step 1
Process your payment via credit card at the USA Concert Honor Band U-Store. All major credit/debit cards are accepted. If you have multiple children you are paying for each purchase must be done as a separate transaction.
Step 1: 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival Payment Portal
Step 2
2) Fill out your registration online (you will be asked for the participant's medical information - all information is kept strictly confidential). Each participant must fill this out individually.
Step 2: 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Registration
All registration must be complete by Sunday, February 16th, at 11:59PM.
Step 3
3) Complete your video seating placement audition.
Step 3: Video Seating Placement Audition Form
Video Seating Placement must be submitted by Sunday, February 16th, at 11:59PM
Video Seating Placement Auditions
- All students will be asked to submit a short video seating placement audition. This will be a short 60 second video that each student will share electronically through the form linked above.
- Students should select an excerpt that best represents their lyrical and technical playing (etude, solo, etc). All-State selections from your state are an ideal choice.
- Percussionists will be asked to prepare a short 30-60 second snare drum excerpt of their choosing (from an etude, solo, or concert literature, highlighting snare technique) and a short 30-60 second mallet excerpt of their choosing (highlighting their mallet technique - either two or four mallet).
- Seating placement auditions will be due on Sunday, February 16, 2025 by 11:59PM.
Parking
Students should park for the USA Concert Honor Band in Lot 602 (to the north of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center). This lot is accessed from the light at University Boulevard and USA South Drive. Participants will see signs to for Lot 602 to their right as they turn onto USA South Drive. Parking after 4PM on Friday is not regulated and participants can park in any lot adjacent to the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center from that time through the conclusion of the Honor Band Festival.
Schedule
Schedule of Events
2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival
Friday, February 21, 2025
1:00 PM-1:45 PM - Registration Open (Lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center)
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM – Welcome Meeting (Laidlaw Recital Hall)
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Host Concert with USA Wind Ensemble
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall/Rehearsal Hall)
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Dinner on own
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall/Rehearsal Hall)
9:30 PM - Rehearsal Complete
- Students must depart for hotels or local residences.
- Chaperones and Band Directors in attendance are responsible for students.
- Secure areas will be made available for storage of instruments.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
8:15 AM - Laidlaw Performing Arts Center open for students wishing to warm-up or practice
8:55 AM - All student participants should be seated in their ensemble, warming up
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall/Rehearsal Hall)
12:00 PM - Lunch Break (on your own)
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall/Rehearsal Hall)
4:00 PM – Break
6:00 PM - Finale Concert (Laidlaw Recital Hall) – FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC!
Campus Map and Hotels
An interactive Campus Map is available for those visiting campus for the first time. In addition a printable PDF Campus Map is available. Please note that all activities involved with the 2025 USA Concert Honor Band Festival will occur in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
There are also many other hotels that are close to the USA campus. We encourage you and your family to check out Mobile if you are not from the area!
Concert Dress
Concert dress will be all black for all participants. Men should plan on a black dress pants, black shoes and socks, and a black button top. Tux is acceptable. Ladies should plan on black slacks, black top, black shoes, or full length black dress with black shoes.
Audition to be a Music Major or Minor
Senior participants have the opportunity to complete scholarship auditions for the USA Department of Music as a music major or minor. Students interested in auditioning as a music major or minor should indicate this in their registration information. All music major and minor auditions also count as the student's Jaguar Marching Band audition. Music major and minor auditions will occur during the student's time on campus for Concert Honor Band. Guidelines for Department of Music instrumental auditions can be found at the link below:
Department of Music Audition Requirements
Audition for Jaguar Marching Band (Woodwinds and Brass)
Woodwind and brass senior participants wishing to audition for the Jaguar Marching Band should indicate this in their registration information. These auditions will occur during the student's time on campus for Concert Honor Band. All accepted members of the Jaguar Marching Band receive a generous scholarship for participation. Guidelines for JMB woodwind and brass auditions can be found at the link below:
Jaguar Marching Band Audition Requirements
IMPORTANT NOTE for percussionists and color guard wishing to audition for the Jaguar Marching Band: Percussionists wishing to audition for the Jaguar Drumline should register to audition on the April 19, 2025 Jaguar Drumline audition date. Color guard wishing to audition for the Jaguar Color guard should register to audition on the April 26, 2025 Jaguar Color guard audition date.