2010 Northern Festival of Bands

The Northern Festival of Bands, an annual festival of high school bands which typically hosts over 40 schools and over 250 individual participants in a weekend long event, will be held February 11th-13th, 2010. The event will feature performances by the UNI Wind Symphony and UNI Symphonic Band on Friday evening, as well as Saturday afternoon’s performance featuring solo competition winners, the festival’s percussionist groups, Festival Concert Band and Festival Symphony Band. 

Guest Conductors


Richard Fischer, Director of Bands at Concordia University, Chicago, conducts the Symphony Band [grades 11-12].

Leon Kuehner, former Director of Bands at Hampton High School (retired) conducts the Concert Band [grades 9-10].

Festival Performing Ensembles

Festival Symphony Band Richard Fischer, conductor
Festival Concert Band Leon Kuehner, conductor
Northern Iowa Wind Symphony Ronald Johnson, conductor
Northern Iowa Symphonic Band S. Daniel Galyen, conductor
Festival Percussion Ensemble Joshua Armstrong, conductor
UNI Chamber Ensembles  


The Application Process


The Northern Festival offers two festival bands: the Symphony Band for 11th and 12th grade students and the Concert Band for 9th and10th grade students. The Percussion Ensemble is selected from the two festival bands. Students are selected on the basis of the application forms submitted by each school and director. In recent years, we have received over 400 applications with approximately 100 selected for each band. WE REQUEST THAT EACH SCHOOL SUBMIT AT LEAST 2 NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION.

This year all applications will be submitted via our website. Applications should be completed by Friday, December 4, 2009. 

Application Instructions:

  1. - Go to www.uni.edu/music/events/northern_festival_of_bands/registration.html
  2. - Complete each of the boxes and click on “submit’ once
  3. - Repeat for each application

Auditions


Students accepted for either of the festival bands will audition for chair placement between 4:00 pm and 6:45 pm on Thursday afternoon, February 11.  In order to complete these auditions in time for the rehearsal and to accommodate those driving long distances, we will use the following audition schedule:

                        4:00-5:00 pm – Schools within a 50 mile radius of UNI
                        5:00-6:00 pm – Schools within a 100 mile radius of UNI
                        6:00-6:45 pm – Schools outside a 100 mile radius of UNI

            Audition material will be sent with the notification of selection.

Concert Dress


Performance dress will be that normally worn by each school. For some this will be uniforms; for others it will coat and tie for gentlemen and dresses for the ladies. Please dress appropriately.

Solo Competition


All students accepted into either of the festival bands are welcome to audition for the Solo Competition.  The winner will perform at the final festival concert on Saturday afternoon and receive and an offer of a music scholarship not to exceed $6000.00 (over a four year period). This award is restricted to students who wish to pursue a music degree at the University of Northern Iowa.

The application/audition process is as follows:

  1. - As you complete the registration form, each student wishing to audition for the Solo Competition should complete the soloist section of the student registration form: www.uni.edu/music/events/northern_festival_of_bands/registration.html
  2. - Forms should be completed by Friday, December 4, 2009.
  3. - The School of Music will provide an accompanist for the audition and the performance on Saturday. Each student is responsible for providing the piano accompaniment.

Festival Fees


Students - $25.00
Conductors - $20.00

The fees include the banquet meal, festival music, conductor fees, and other event costs.

Schedule


The complete schedule will be available at Registration on Thursday in Russell Hall. Currently, the following time frames are in place:

2010 NFB Schedule
Thursday, February 11
4:00-6:30 pm Auditions
7:00-9:00 pm Rehearsal I
Friday, February 12
8:30-12:00 noon Rehearsals and Concerts
1:30-4:00 pm Rehearsals and Concerts
6:00 Rehearsals
7:30 Concert (Great Hall)
Saturday, February 13
9:00-11:00 Rehearsals and Concerts
12:00 noon Festival Banquet
2:00 pm Final Festival Concert


If you need further information or clarification, please contact Ronald Johnson at (319) 273-6058 or ronald.johnson@uni.edu