Honor Bands
North County Honor Band:
The honor band is hosted by Hockinson High School band director Corey McEnry and Hockinson Middle School band director Jennifer Ritenburgh. It is comprised of bands from all over southwestern Washington and many of the local band directors also accompany their students to the event, which serves as a useful observation opportunity for area band directors. Students in grades 6-12 who are interested in participating in the event will be given applications, which they will fill out and give to their band directors for submission to a committee who then selects students for participation based on instrumentation and a survey that is filled in by directors. The students will rehearse Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, before presenting the concert Saturday, at 7 p.m., in the HSH auditorium, 16819 N.E. 159th St. Brush Prairie. The event is free and open to the public. The concert will also be live-streamed through a link that will be made available the week of the event.
In the square to the right is a link to the North County Honor Band Youtube Channel, where concerts from the past several years can be viewed!
Western International Band Clinic
The Western International Band Clinic is an annual 3-day event for high school students that is held in the historic and prestigious Double Tree Hotel in Seattle, Washington. Students who wish to participate in this very elite program for young musicians must submit an audition in early October and must use the audition material that can be found on the WIBC website (link provided). The only acceptable alternative to this material is the audition material for All-State and All-Northwest (more information below). A great deal more information can be found through the WIBC website, but if students or parents have any questions, they should absolutely feel free to contact me (Mrs. Steck). Note: This event does have a significant cost attached to it. If money is any issue for students wishing to participate, there is aid available from TEMPO. My personal desire is to never allow finances to become a barrier between hard-working students and incredible opportunities.
WIBC Homepage:
https://www.bandworld.org/WIBC/
WIBC Audition Materials
WMEA All-State/ All-Northwest
In addition to WIBC and North County Honor Band, high school students and 7th and 8th grade middle school students are also encouraged to audition for and participate in All-State and All-Northwest, managed by the Washington Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators. This event is similar to WIBC in that it involves an overnight trip for students and has a significant cost attached. Again, financial aid is available to help cover these costs. The high school material for All-State and All-Northwest CAN be used in place of the material for WIBC, but WIBC material CAN NOT be used to audition for All-State/ All-Northwest.
WMEA All-State Homepage:
WMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest
The WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Contest is presented in Ellensburg the last Friday and Saturday in April each year. This event provides the opportunity for the finest of Washington's high school music students to hear each other in a competitive situation. From our 22 regional contests, the winners in each category move on to the state competition where first, second and third places are selected.
The ensemble contest includes "small" and "large" ensembles in seven categories: woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, women's vocal, men's vocal and mixed vocal. Also, in 2018 Mariachi ensembles will be added as a piloted category.
There are 29 solo categories, including seven woodwind categories, five brass, four percussion, four strings, six vocal, piano, guitar and harp.
This event is always held on the last Friday and Saturday in April, with small ensembles participating on Friday morning, large ensembles Friday afternoon and solos all day Saturday.
WMEA Solo and Ensemble Home Page:
Questions?
Contact: Bryana Steck
steckb@woodlandschools.org