2023 USA Concert Honor Band Registration Information
Welcome to the 2023 USA Concert Honor Band Registration Page!
The 2023 USA Concert Honor Band will be held on Friday, December 8th - Saturday, December 9th 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 Red Band is Dr. Chad Nicholson, Director of Bands at the University of Arizona. The Blue Band will be conducted by Dr. Will Petersen, Director of Bands at the University of South Alabama and Dr. Robert Abend, Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Alabama.
Accepted Students Listing
A listing of accepted students for the 2023 USA Concert Honor Band Festival is provided below. If you are not able to participate please make sure to email Dr. Rob Abend at robertabend@southalabama.edu as soon as possible so we may offer your position to a student on the waitlist.
2023 USA Concert Honor Band Accepted Students List
Registration Information
Congratulations on your selection to the 2023 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 2023 USA Concert Honor Band Festival.
2023 Welcome Packet (This includes your Welcome Letter, Schedule and Map)
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: 2023 USA Concert Honor Band Festival Payment Portal
Step 2
2) Fill out your Medical Form, Media Release, and Liability Release Forms available online (you will be asked for the participant's medical information - all information is kept strictly confidential). You must fill out this form individually for each child you have participating.
Step 2: Health Statement, Media Release, & Liability Release
All registration must be complete by Sunday, December 3rd, at 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
2023 USA Concert Honor Band Festival
Friday, December 8, 2023
1:00 PM-1:45 PM - Registration Open (Lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center)
- Students will be sent to warm-up rooms upon check-in. When warmed up proceed to your audition room.
- Placement auditions will consist of a short selection (30-60 seconds) of the student’s choosing demonstrating technical and lyrical playing, major scales (F, Bb, Eb, Ab concert), chromatic scale, and a short sight reading excerpt.
- Percussion will be asked to prepare a short 30-60 second snare drum excerpt, mallet excerpt (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone), and short sight reading excerpt on both snare and mallets (xylophone),
- Warm-up areas will be available (Laidlaw Rehearsal Room and Practice Rooms).
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM – Seating Auditions
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Sectionals
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall)
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Dinner on own
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital 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, December 9, 2023
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 - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall)
12:00 PM - Lunch Break (on your own)
1:30 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall)
4:00 PM – Break
6:00 PM - Finale Concert (Laidlaw Recital Hall) – FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC!
Seating Placement Auditions
- Students will be sent to warm-up rooms upon check-in. When warmed up proceed to your audition room.
- Placement auditions for woodwinds and brass will consist of a single short selection (30-60 seconds) of the student's choosing demonstrating technical and lyrical playing, major scales (F, Bb, Eb, Ab concert), chromatic scale, and a short sight reading excerpt.
- Percussion will be asked to prepare a short 30-60 second snare drum excerpt, 30-60 second mallet excerpt (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone), and short sight reading excerpt on both snare and mallets (xylophone)
- Warm-up areas will be available for all students (Laidlaw Rehearsal Room and Practice Rooms).
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 2023 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 upon check-in. These auditions will occur following the seating placement audition or scheduled 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 upon check-in. These auditions will occur following the seating placement audition or be scheduled 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 wishing to audition for the Jaguar Marching Band: Percussionists wishing to audition for the Jaguar Drumline should register to audition on the April 20, 2024 Jaguar Drumline audition date. More information will be provided about this opportunity during the percussion masterclass and sectional on Friday, December 8th.