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Festival Overview

Sponsored jointly by
Northwestern University School of Music and
Northshore Concert Band

Solo and Ensemble Contest - Saturday, March 15, 2008
Band Clinics – Thursday, March 20, 2008

Northwestern University Campus – Evanston, Illinois




Forms


Events (Word file)
Information Letter (Word file)
Registration Form (Word file)
Online Registration

Concert band clinics

Your full concert band will have the opportunity to work with highly regarded university directors, all of whom have a great deal of clinic experience, for a 50-minute clinic in a noncompetitive, nonrated format. This year’s clinics will be on March 20th. Clinicians will be Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands, Northwestern University and the Artistic Director of the Northshore Concert Band; Dr. Ryan Nelson, Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern; and Dan Farris, Director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern. The clinics, which are not open to the public, are informal, with no requirements about the number or types of pieces that must be performed. It’s a unique no-pressure environment for your ensemble to work with and receive valuable feedback from top educators. Band clinics are extremely popular, and space is limited, so be sure to reserve a place for your ensembles early.


Solo and ensemble contest

Student musicians will perform solos and ensembles for area band directors and musicians from the Northshore Concert Band, receiving both verbal and written feedback following the performance. The solo and ensemble contest will be on Saturday, March 15. Adjudication is available for all wind, string, and percussion instruments as well as voice and piano. Recipients of a I or II rating will receive an award medal.

Unlike other area solo and ensemble contests, our festival is open to all public and private school teachers as well as private instructors, with no membership dues or fees. In addition, while your students are waiting for their rating, they can attend a variety of classes and free performances (see below).

Classes

Performance and technique

On Saturday, March 15th, during the solo and ensemble contest, principal players from the Northshore Concert Band will present playing and technique classes for students on all band instruments. Classes will address the following topics:

• Principles of tone production
• Breath control
• How to solve unique instrumental problems
• How to solve special fingering problems
• Suggested repertoire and method books

Participating students will receive printed materials and be able to ask questions and receive personal assistance.

Master Classes

Instrumental Master Class

Music Vocations & Musicianship Master Class

Recital
Selected members of the Northshore Concert Band will perform solo and ensemble literature for
band and orchestra instruments, piano, and voice. Music selections will be suitable contest literature for both grade-school and high-school students. This recital is held during the solo and ensemble contest on Saturday, March 17.

Schedule of Fees

Band Clinic $350.00
Solo entry $15.00
Ensemble entry (per performer) $8.00
Ensemble (12 or more performers) $100.00

Dates to Remember

October 1, 2007 ...............Registration form due. Do not send fees yet!

Late November 2007 ......You will receive your invoice and solo/ensemble entry forms.
(Note: You may also download your own forms)

January 11, 2008 .............All fees and solo/ensemble entry forms are due.

Late February 2008 .........You will receive final instructions and schedules.

March 20, 2008 ................Band clinics

March 15, 2008 ................Solo and ensemble contest, classes, recitals

Click here to submit an online reservation form for your students. Slots for band clinics are limited and fill up quickly. Applications are accepted in the order they are received, so don’t delay! For the solo and ensemble contest, simply estimate the number of students who may participate. Send no fees now. Payment information and solo and ensemble entry forms will be provided in our November mailing, or will be available in November for download from this website. If you have any questions, please call George Machay at 847- 432-2263.