All-District Honor Band

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Directors should encourage their talented high school students to apply for the 26th Annual All-District Honor Band Festival.  The All-District Bands provide an excellent opportunity for your students to have their talents recognized, perform with other outstanding young musicians and work with highly respected music educators and conductors.  The festival rehearsal will be Saturday, November 22 and the concert will be Sunday, November 23. The 2025 coordinator is Elizabeth VanHook, evanhook@alex.k12.in.us from Alexandria Monroe Jr./Sr. High School.

Applications

Directors begin the application process by registering for the All-District event and receive a computer-generated event code for their school. Outstanding musicians, who are students of IBA members, in grades 9 -12 are eligible for the All-District Honor Band.  The student must be a member in good standing of his/her school’s band program throughout the school year. Ninth grade students may apply for either All-Region or All-District but not both. All schools submitting applications will have at least one student selected for the organization.  Students may submit online applications from August 23 through September 12.  Selected members must attend the full rehearsal schedule and concert.  Students should not apply if they cannot make that commitment.  When the student application window closes, directors will have one week to complete the recommendations for each student from his/her school.  Late entries will only be accepted with a $50.00 late fee, provided that the selection process has not begun at your site. The registration / application links will open Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Director / School Event Registration Student Application

Selection Process

Band directors from each area will serve on the selection committee responsible for choosing their respective All-District Honor Band.  Contact the site host if you are interested in volunteering your services.  Please be accurate and specific when completing the student’s recommendation.Directors will rank students by instrument section and complete an overall ranking of all students recommended.  The application must be complete or it will be discarded.  Each school is guaranteed to have at least one student selected for participation.  Selection of the ensemble will be based solely on director recommendations.  Past participation does not guarantee acceptance.

Registration

Each student selected for participation will pay a $35.00 registration fee on Saturday morning November 22.  All students selected for the band will receive a commemorative patch.  Each site will also have lunch available for a nominal fee.  Directors should contact the site host to volunteer to help with selections and sectionals.

Preparation

Directors should also make sure each of their selected students is prepared to play all the music sent to them.  Saturday morning is not the time to work on notes and rhythms.  Please prepare your students!

2025 All-District Honor Band Schedule

(Students grades 9 – 12 are eligible for this group.) Ninth grade students may apply for either All-District or All-Region but not both.

Tuesday, August 23 Online applications open. Friday, September 12 Online applications close at 11:59 PM EST. Director window opens to allow recommendations to be added to student applications and a summary form completed. Saturday, September 20 Director access to student applications closes at 11:59 PM EST. Friday, October 10 Site hosts mail selection notification and music to participating schools. Saturday, November 22 8:30 – 9:00 AM - Registration ($35 fee per student) 9:00 – 12:00 - Sectionals / Full Rehearsal 12:00 – 1:00 PM - Lunch (The site host will collect a fee for a provided lunch.) 1:00 – 4:30 - Sectionals / Full Rehearsal Sunday, November 23 2:00 – 3:00 PM - Dress Rehearsal 4:00 – 4:45 - Concert

Festival Sites and Hosts

Northwest (central time): Kankakee Valley – Nicholas DeJarlais

Northwest (eastern time): Plymouth High School – Bryan Ames

Northeast: DeKalb High School (Waterloo) – Chris Adamisin

Central Northwest – Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School (Thorntown) – Leslie Baker

Central Northeast: New Castle High School – Jonathon Edwards

Central Southeast: Shelbyville High School – Allison Anderson

Central West: Northview H.S. (Brazil) – Dominic Thompson

South Central: Bedford-North Lawrence High School – Jim Jones

Southwest: Vincennes University – Susie Jackson

Southeast: Jeffersonville High School - Briston Hatchell

Future All-District Honor Band Dates

November 21 & 22, 2026

November 20 & 21, 2027

November 18 & 19, 2028

November 17 & 18, 2029

Guest Conductor Application