UMD Bands: 45th Annual Junior High School Honor Band
Each spring the UMD Bands host a junior high honor band festival. This festival typically features 2 or 3 honors bands each totalling between 60 and 100 musicians.
Brian Balmages– conductor/clinician
Brian Balmages (b. 1975) is an active composer, conductor, producer, and performer. His fresh compositional ideas have resulted in a high demand for his wind, brass, and orchestral music throughout the world. As a conductor, Mr. Balmages enjoys engagements with numerous state and regional bands, orchestras, university groups, and professional. Currently, he is Director of Instrumental Publications for The FJH Music Company Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He resides in Baltimore with his wife, Lisa and their sons, Jacob and Collin. You may read more about Brian at his web site at http://www.brianbalmages.com/
Our Honors Band Philosophy
The purpose of this festival is to give the best students in your program a chance to participate in an ensemble that not only performs well but provides the students an opportunity to learn more about music and hopefully inspire them to become more excited about music. While we want bands that play well at the concert, we are more concerned about what your students learn while they are here at UMD. The level of performance does not always reflect what has been learned. Having said that, I would like you to consider the following when you are nominating your students.
1. Nominate only those who you know have achieved a level of skill beyond beginner level.
2. Please nominate students who have good attitudes and want to learn.
3. Please nominate students who want to work hard.
4. Nominate those who will appreciate the opportunity you/we are providing them and want to take there experiences back home to help improve your program.
Next Festival
Next Festival: Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Student Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Acceptance Notification: Wednesday, February 20, 2013
2013 Conductors
Gold Band Performance: Brian Balmages, conductor
Maroon Band Performance: Daniel Eaton, conductor
White Band Performance: Mark Whitlock, conductor
Music Stands
Because of the large numbers of participants I’m asking each school to bring at least one stand for every two participants. If you could bring an extra one or two stands, that would be appreciated. Please remember to take them home!
Rehearsal Locations
Once again because of the overwhelming response to the festival, we will be dividing the selected students into three bands of equal size. The Gold Band will be rehearsing on the Weber Music Hall stage. This band consists of a selection of the top students you nominated, including some of the older students. The Maroon Band will be rehearsing in the Kirby Ballroom and the White Band will be rehearsing on the MPAC stage. I hope you understand that the selection process was difficult, but I feel sure that we have three outstanding bands that will well represent all of your schools.
How to Nominate
The nomination process will be the same as in past years. First, please nominate your finest students for the Gold Band. Those students who are nominated for the Gold Band but not accepted will be placed in the Maroon and White Bands. You should nominate students who you know are not ready for the Gold Band on the Maroon and White Bands nomination sheet. I'm sure you will nominate only those students you know are deserving of this honor and are willing to come to work hard and learn. Also, please nominate only those students who you know are interested in coming and will be able to come if selected. Click here to nominate.
Documents
2013 Festival Information
Contact Information
Mark Whitlock, Director of Bands
p: 218.726.6124
f: 218.726.8210
mwhitloc@d.umn.edu
231 Humanities Building
1201 Ordean Court
Duluth, MN 55812
For Information about music department programs and upcoming concerts, please call 218-726-8877
University of Minnesota Campuses