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USA Concert Honor Band Festival

ºÚÁÏÌìÌà the Honor Band

We welcome students in grades 9-12 to apply for the ºÚÁÏÌìÌà Concert Honor Band Festival to be held Thursday, February 20, 2025 - Saturday, February 22, 2025 on the campus of the University of ºÚÁÏÌìÌà Alabama!  

Hosted in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, students will experience a rewarding weekend of music-making! The Red Band will be conducted by nationally recognized conductor and music educator, , Director of Bands at the Illinois State University.  Dr. Will Petersen, Director of Bands at the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃ, along with Dr. Robert Abend, Associate Director of Bands at USA will team up to conduct the Blue Band. Both groups will perform an their finale concert in the Laidlaw Performing Ars Center Recital Hall on Saturday afternoon, February 22, 2025. 

Application Process

Students currently in grades 9-12 can apply online beginning Friday, November 1, 2024 through an application link on this page. Students should apply for themselves for consideration.  Applications will be accepted through Monday, January 20, 2025.  

Once the application process is closed, directors for all the schools represented in the applications will be emailed and asked to rank their students who have applied. Once rankings are received both bands will be selected and a list of accepted students will be posted on Monday, January 27, 2025  

Concert Honor Band Festival Features

• Instruction by nationally recognized clinicians and masterclasses by USA faculty

• Concert Honor Band Medal

• Concert Honor Band T-shirt

• Red Band Finale Concert and Blue Band Finale Concert

Costs

There is no cost to apply for the ºÚÁÏÌìÌà Concert Honor Wind Ensemble.  Students who are selected for this event will pay a $50.00 registration fee.  This registration fee covers the costs of all features and activities.

Tentative Schedule of Events 

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2025 Concert Honor Band Festival
Schedule of Events - Updated 10/31/24
  

Thursday, February, 20, 2025
1:00 PM-1:45 PM - Registration Open (Lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center)

• Accepted students will be sent to warm-up rooms – when warmed up proceed to your audition room
• Percussionists will meet at 4PM in the Percussion Storage Room for part assignments
• Placement auditions will consist of a short etude, scales, and sight reading
• 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

• Various Locations

3:45 PM - 5:00 PM - Rehearsal (Recital Hall Stage)

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Dinner on own

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Recital Hall Stage)

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.

Friday, February, 21, 2025

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 - Rehearsal (Recital Hall Stage)
12:00 PM - Lunch Break (on your own)
1:30 PM - Rehearsal (Recital Hall Stage)
4:00 PM - Break
6:00 PM - Finale Concert (Laidlaw Recital Hall) – FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC!

Dr. Tony Marinello - Director of Bands at Illinois State University

Dr. Anthony C. Marinello, III serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Illinois State University where he is the conductor and music director of the Illinois State University Wind Symphony. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the wind band program, he leads the graduate program in wind conducting and teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting.

As conductor of the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Dr. Marinello has collaborated with numerous esteemed colleagues and composers including William Bolcom, Steven Bryant, Donald Grantham, and Chen Yi. He is also active in the commissioning and performing new works for wind band including a recent commission, world premiere, and subsequent recording of Come Sunday for wind ensemble by composer Omar Thomas.

He joined the faculty at Illinois State University after serving at The University of Texas at Austin as the Assistant Director of the Longhorn Band and Director of the Longhorn Pep Band. Prior to his appointment at The University of Texas, Marinello served on the faculty of Virginia Tech as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. Marinello has previously taught in the public schools of Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas and remains committed to serving the music education community as an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.

Dr. Marinello has been inducted into Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. At Illinois State University, he has received numerous awards including the Illinois State University Service Initiative Award, the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts (WKCFA) Teaching Initiative Award, the WKCFA Service Initiative Award, the WKCFA Research Initiative Award, and the Illinois State University New Faculty Start-up Award.

Dr. Marinello holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Marinello earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University, the Master of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The University of Texas at Austin.