Junior High Band
At the December 2024 board meeting, it was voted upon by directors to update/change the audition excerpts for JH Honor Band Auditions.
The excerpts for both cycles will be from the Essential Elements 2000 series, book 3.
We are indeed working on the updated excerpts, however, for the 2025-26 audition cycle we will be using Cycle 1 from the existing excerpts.
The new material will be in place by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
2025-26
Important DatesTBA - Audition uploads begin
Oct. 1 - Audition Upload Deadline: 11:59 PM (CST) - $5 audition fee per completed audition
TBA - Judging ends
Nov. 8 - Clinic & Concert @ Norton HS - $15 participation fee per selected student
Who can participate?
The KMEA-NW Junior High Honor Band is open to students in 6th-8th Grade. Please limit the number of 6th Grade student applications to only outstanding musicians. Students may NOT be a member of both JH Honor Band and JH Honor Choir.
Fees
There is a $5 audition fee per completed audition and a $15 participation fee per selected student. Please make checks payable to NORTHWEST DISTRICT KMEA. Your fees are due at your arrival at the November Mini-Convention. Use the Invoice Generator to create a printed invoice.
Audition Recordings
Auditions will be submitted online using Festival Scores. Teachers may create their Director account and enter student profiles at any time. Recordings will be due by 11:59:59 PM (Central Time) on the established deadline date. Late entries cannot be accepted. Directors will need to activate the following tag in their Festival Scores account:
Event Tag TBA
Audition Requirements (Excerpts)
Performance Music
Once available, music will be sent out to the NWKMEA Junior High Honor Band Participants. Students must work on the music with their band directors before the Mini-Convention I at Hays High School. This will help ensure that the band will perform to the best of its ability and it will help the clinician do their job more effectively.
Items to Bring
- Instrument
- Percussion must bring all sticks, mallets, snare drum, and any small instruments he or she plays. Big instruments will be provided (timpani, bass drum, bells, xylophone, marimba, etc.).
- Music Folder with Music. No extra music will be provided.
- Pencils (no pens!)
- Nice White Shirt/Top
- Nice Black Pants/Skirt (that covers the knees)
The band shall consist of approximately 100-120 students. Sections are to be balanced as follows:
| Flute | 16 |
| Oboe | 3 |
| Bassoon | 3 |
| Bb Clarinet | 24 |
| Bass Clarinet | 4 |
| Contra Bass Clarinet | 1 |
| Alto Sax | 6 |
| Tenor Sax | 4 |
| Bari Sax | 2 |
| Trumpet | 16 |
| Horn | 8 |
| Trombone | 12 |
| Baritone | 6 |
| Tuba | 6 |
| Percussion | 6 |
| Mallets | 2 |
- At least one student will be selected from each school submitting entries.
- The exact number in each section may be adjusted as necessary for balance.
- Each section will have two alternates selected provided there are enough entries.
- For those students who wish to audition for both band and choir, the band selections will be made before the deadline for the Choir Auditions. Reminder, a student may only take part in one ensemble.