Home What We Do Music for All National Festival New Festival Opportunities in 2014

New Festival Opportunities in 2014

New opportunities, quality educational experience
Starting in 2014, Music for All will provide world-class educational opportunities for additional bands to perform. The National Concert Band Festival will now include two stages (opportunities) for high school bands – “Featured Bands” on the Honors Stage at Clowes Memorial Hall and “Invited Bands” on the Festival Stage at the new Howard L. Schrott Center for the Performing Arts, both at Butler University.

The new “Invited Band” stage is designed for up to 12 bands interested in experiencing a great, educational, “life-changing experience.” This opportunity will provide the same world-class offerings as the “Featured Band” such as master classes, leadership sessions, social gatherings, one-on-one conductor feedback and a gala awards banquet, but with more “hands-on” treatment such as multiple clinicians simultaneously working with bands, interactive audience participation and other aspects that will enhance the student’s experience.  Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser will be the Master of Ceremonies in 2014 for the Invited Band Festival Stage.

Applying high school bands select on their application form which of the two stage experiences they are applying for.

Download the 2014 Music for All National Festival Application 

Featured Bands – Honors Stage
The Featured Band Honors Stage is the Festival experience that Music for All has presented since the Festival’s debut in 1992. Bands perform in beautiful Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University. Up to 18 bands who apply for the Featured Bands experience will be selected to perform.

One-on-one mentoring for conductors. Each “Featured Band” will receive a one-on-one mentoring session for the ensemble’s conductors with one of the Festival evaluators or clinicians. This mentoring session affords the conductor the opportunity to engage one-on-one with the evaluator about the program and topics of interest to both the conductor and the mentor.

Invited Band – Festival Stage
The Invited Band experience is for those bands that not quite ready to apply for a Featured Band performance but that want the opportunity for growth this enrichment opportunity provides. This experience is also for additional bands from the Featured Band programs.
Invited Bands will perform for nationally recognized evaluators and clinicians in a completely supportive non-competitive environment – to be invited is the achievement.
All bands interested in the Invited Band opportunity must submit an application and recording.
Invited Band students participate in all master classes, social activities and the Gala Awards Banquet available as part of the Festival experience. The Invited Band experience is envisioned as an in-depth education experience. In addition to the performance, which includes written and recorded evaluation, each Invited Band will have a 30 minute clinic that will involve three evaluators who will work simultaneously with each band.

Each band’s conductor(s) will receive a 30 minute, one-on-one conductor-led session with an evaluator following each performance block. A face-view video of the conductor will be provided for the conductor evaluation session.
Each band member will receive a DVD and CD package of their concert performance, and formal group photo.
Bands will participate in audience time for each other. Student ensemble audience members will have the option to complete an evaluation form with positive comments and thought-provoking questions to provide additional educational experiences.

Read about the Highlights for both Featured and Invited Bands Here!


NEW!  Music for All Affiliate Regional Concert Band Festivals:
Music for All will sponsor up to six festivals in select areas of the United States over the next five years. The festivals could be existing festivals or Music for All might assist interested hosts in beginning festivals in select areas of the United States. Music for All will provide one National Concert Band Festival evaluator to participate, as well as student and teacher scholarships to the MFA Summer Symposium.

The Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival will be the first pilot Affiliate Regional Concert Band Festival in Spring 2013.

Contact Music for All at 800.848.2263 if you are interested in the opportunity of hosting or becoming a Music for All Affiliate Regional Festival.

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