2024 ILMEA District 7 Band Festival

Here is up-to-date information for ILMEA District 7 band festival including, audition requirements & materials,  links to listen to the selections you will perform, and the general timeline as we know at this point.. Anyone interested in auditioning this fall must let Mr. Jones know to receive an audition packet and make sure you have November 2nd clear of other commitments.

*Please have a private lesson teacher help you get started this summer on these requirements. 

2024 Audition Timeline

• September 11, 2024 - Excerpts released (12:00PM)

• September 18, 2024 - Audition nomination deadline; all nominations must be entered in Nominate by 11:59:59PM

• September 18, 2024 - Audition submission window opens

• October 2, 2024 - Audition submission window closes at 11:59:59PM

• November 2, 2024 - Junior Festival, location TBA (coming soon!)

2024 Junior Festival Festival Date

November 2, 2024, Location TBA

• Be on the lookout for an additional email in the coming weeks

2024 Guest Conductor
Our conductor for the Fall 2024 Festival is Mr. Eric Bachmann, a former District 7 band director, who recently retired from Emerson Middle School after 34 years in the profession. We are very excited for Mr. Bachmann to bring his energy, expertise, and enthusiasm to our 2024 ILMEA District 7 Junior Festival. You can read more about Mr. Bachmann here.

2024 Junior Festival Program Info

Our Fall 2024 Program was selected by Mr. Bachmann and has been approved by District 7 President Cody Halberstadt. Permission from the publishers has been secured for digital distribution for both the auditions and festival part assignments. Mr. Bachmann has selected an engaging, diverse, and student-centered program for our District 7 students.

The program order is tentative, but will include the following pieces:

• Fable by Eric Morales, published by FJH Music

  • Listen/View

• Chasing Sunlight by Cait Nishimura, published by Murphy Music Press

  • Listen/View

• Legend of the Lamb by JaRod Hall, published by R. Standridge Music

  • Listen/View

• Valdres by Johannes Hanssen, arr. by James Curnow

  • Listen/View

2024 ILMEA District 7 Junior Band Audition Packets

• The Audition Packet for Winds contains the following:

  • Cover sheet

  • ILMEA Junior Scale Sheet for the designated instrument

  • ILMEA District 7 Cycle 3 etude

  • Prepare 1st parts (where applicable) for Fable, Chasing Sunlight, Legend of the Lamb, and Valdres. 

  • NOTE: There is a piccolo part on Valdres. Any student wishing to audition for piccolo must submit a complete audition for both piccolo and flute, as Valdres is the only work featuring piccolo. 

• The Audition Packet for Percussion contains the following:

  • Cover sheet

  • ILMEA Junior Scale Sheet for Oboe

  • ILMEA District 7 Percussion Etudes: Mallets, Snare, Timpani, Accessories

  • ILMEA District 7 percussionists do not audition with literature excerpts