The Annual SOU Honor Band for high school bands will be held at SOU on Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23, 2025 culminating in a FREE concert at 1:00pm on Sunday, February 23rd at the SOU Music Recital Hall. The best high school bands from across the Pacific Northwest will come together for a day of learning and engagement and will perform together. Directed by Dr. Alexander Gonzalez.
Free livestream: https://youtube.com/live/G280MJgJ1y0?feature=share
The SOU Music Department is beyond excited to welcome roughly 60 talented student musicians from all across the valley for a weekend of education, community, and marvelous music. The students will work from Friday through Sunday (a very short amount of time), to put on a concert of incredible wind band music. They will also be treated to our annual Spectrum Concert – a sampling of musical performances by the SOU collegiate music students.” – Alexander Gonzalez.
Honor Band high school students representing Ashland, Clackamas, Henley, Crater, Grants Pass, Hidden Valley, Illinois Valley, North and South Medford, Phoenix, Klamath Union, Mazama, Riddle, Ridgeview, Roseburg, and Talent High Schools are recommended by their school band directors and have to apply for and are selected based on instrument, experience, and video auditions for the privilege of participating in the program.
The weekend will be spent rehearsing, performing, and attending classes. Music classes will be offered in conducting, audio and music production, film scoring, drumming, and mallet making, all taught by SOU faculty. In addition to the musical training, the high school students will have the opportunity to stay in the SOU dorms, eat on campus, and experience “a day in the life of a college music student.”
On Sunday, February 23 at 1 p.m. the high school students will perform a free concert for their parents, friends, teachers, and the community. SOU’s Music Department hosts the Honor Band annually, to inspire high school students and provide them with a glimpse into auditioning, studying, and performing music at SOU. Similar festivals are also available for high school vocal and percussion students. “This festival will have a long-lasting impact on students, directors, and families who attended, and we hope to see many of these high school students choose to pursue their degrees in music at SOU.”
– Alexander Gonzalez.
