District Honor Band 2021

Each year over a thousand students from across the Greater Baton Rouge area audition for the District IV  Honor Band. There have been substantial modifications to the audition  process and event this year in order to meet COVID requirements. Students who are selected for this prestigious group will perform in small ensembles along with their peers from across the area.
 
Honor Band is a great goal to work towards in a year when other performance opportunities are limited.  We believe students who are selected will love the unique experience of performing in small ensembles. I  am encouraging all 7th and 8th grade students who are capable of performing the audition music,  at any level, to audition.
 
Registration - $10

• Deadline - Monday, January 11th
• Pay $10 by sending Cash/Check made payable to CMS Band
• Return the registration form, which includes acceptance of the COVID stipulations for this year.
• There is no late registration this year. If the student does not register in time, it is not possible to add them  later.

 
Honor Band Auditions - Prerecorded

• Monday, February 8th to Friday, February 26th
• Students will be given a username/password to log in to their Music First  account beginning on February 8th.  Recordings must be made using the Music First website. They cannot  create recordings using other software and upload them.
• Students may attempt their recordings as many times as they like during the three-week audition  window. When the audition window closes on February 26th, the most recently stored recording becomes final. 
• Audition Music
  • We have been learning portions of the audition music in class since the beginning of the year. However, students are responsible for individually preparing all of their audition material. After school clinics will be offered for each instrument to answer questions and refine audition music.
    • Brass & Woodwinds
      • Recording 1 – All scales on the honor band scale sheet, in order, without stopping.
      • Recording 2 – Honor Band Etude
    • Percussion
      • Recording 1 – All scales on the honor band scale sheet, in order, without stopping.
      • Recording 2 – All snare rudiments listed at the bottom of the honor band scale sheet, in  order.
      • Recordings 3-6 – Each etude in a separate recording. Snare, timpani, melodic.

 
Honor Band Event – Small Ensembles

• Friday, April 16th & Saturday, April 17th
• Students who make the honor band will perform in small ensembles with other top players in the district.  The ensembles are separated by instrument (Flute ensemble, Trombone ensemble, etc). There are also two  top groups: the Brass Quintet & Woodwind Quintet. Auditions for the two top groups will be held in  person on April 23rd before the first rehearsal.
• Students who make the honor band will rehearse on Friday evening and all day Saturday. There will be a  concert for parents Saturday evening. The location for the event is TBD, but Dutchtown High School is  currently our top choice. 

 
COVID Protocols

• Students will complete a temperature check and health screening questionnaire each day of the event.
• Rehearsals and concerts are currently planned to be held entirely outdoors under covered areas.  Concerts will be staggered as necessary based on the current COVID guidelines in April.
• Students will be socially distanced during the entirety of the event.
• Participating students will be required to wear masks at all times when not actively playing a wind instrument. Wind instruments must be equipped with acceptable PPE (bell coverings). 

Download Registration Form/COVID Waiver