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Wright State University Honor Band Festival
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Dates and Overview
February 20-22, 2020
Creative Arts Center
Wright State University
The Wright State University Honor Band Festival is a new event at Wright State University in 2020. It will include a high school honor band, and middle school honor band, and a day of professional development for band directors. Participating students will work with two conductors, play in side-by-side rehearsals with Wright State music faculty and music majors, attend masterclasses given by Wright State faculty, and perform a concert on the Saturday of the festival.
The professional development day will include six hours of workshops and clinics given by the four honor band conductors and Wright State faculty. It will also include an open clinic/rehearsal with the Wright State Wind Symphony and Shelley Jagow, Ph.D., and a luncheon with the Wright State winds and percussion faculty.
The weekend will also include an opportunity for participating high school seniors to audition for acceptance into the Wright State School of Music and an Honor Band Scholarship to Wright State will be awarded to one auditioning senior.
Registration for Honor Band
Please pay the registration fee only if you have been notified that you are accepted for the 2020 Honor Band.
All participants must complete the a waiver form (PDF). Download and complete this form and bring it with you to the festival.
Honor Band Festival Music
- Find your part assignment
- Then download your music
Parking
Directions, Parking and Accessibility
If you need a parking pass, please email Bill Jobert at william.jobert@wright.edu
Hotel & Billeting
Options for students traveling a distance.
- Any hotel reservations are to be made by the director or student’s guardians. You may request university discount rates at the Holiday Inn Dayton/Fairborn or Tru Hotel by Hilton. Access rates here:
- If you wish for your child to be assigned to a home billet with an undergraduate music student, please contact shelley.jagow@wright.edu to request a liability/permission form for your parents/guardians to complete.
Festival Schedule
High School Honor Bands
| Thursday, February 20 | |
| 3–3:45 p.m. | Check-in, Creative Arts Center lobby |
| 4–5:15 p.m. | Side-by-side rehearsal with Wright State faculty |
| 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Pizza dinner (provided) |
| 6:30–8 p.m. | Rehearsal |
| Friday, February 21 | |
| 8 a.m–Noon | Rehearsals |
| Noon–1 p.m. | Lunch at the Hangar (students bring own $) |
| 1–6 p.m. | Rehearsals, clinics, and performances |
| Saturday, February 22 | Honors Wind Symphony: |
| 9:00–11:30 a.m. | Rehearsal |
| 12:00 p.m. | Performance, Schuster Hall |
| Honors Symphonic Band: | |
| 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
Rehearsal - arrive dressed for performance |
| 1:00 p.m. | Performance, Schuster Hall |
Middle School Honor Band
| Friday, February 21 | |
| 8–8:45 a.m. | Check-in, Creative Arts Center lobby |
| 9 a.m.–Noon | Side-by-side rehearsal with Wright State musicians |
| Noon–1 p.m. | Lunch at the Hangar (students bring own $) |
| 1–4 p.m. | Rehearsals, clinics, and performances |
| Saturday, February 22 | |
| 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Rehearsals |
| 12:30 p.m. | Pizza Lunch (provided)/change clothes |
| 1:30 p.m. | Report time |
| 2:00 p.m. | Performance, Schuster Hall |
Professional Development Workshop
| Friday, February 21 | |
| 8–9 a.m. | Coffee and breakfast, Sky Lounge, Creative Arts Center lobby |
| 9–Noon | Clinics |
| Noon–1 p.m. | Lunch with Wright State faculty, Stein Art Gallery |
| 1–3 p.m. | Clinics |
| 3–4 p.m. | Clinic: Shelley Jagow with the Wright State Wind Symphony |
Guest Conductors
Shelley M. Jagow, Ph.D.
Shelley M. Jagow (Ph.D.) is professor of music (saxophone) at Wright State University and director of the Symphonic Band and Saxophone Quartet. She is a Vandoren Regional Artist, as well as a music education clinician for Conn-Selmer, Hal Leonard, and Meredith Music.
Gretchen McNamara
Applied Trombone
Gretchen McNamara, Ph.D., is the trombone instructor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, a position she has held since 2007. In addition to her responsibilities with the trombone studio, she also teaches instrumental music education and supervises field placements.
Ben Streitenberger
Ben Streitenberger is currently enjoying his twelfth year as Director of Bands at Washington Middle School in Washington Court House, Ohio. An alumnus of the school, he has the distinct honor of teaching alongside his high school band director, Mr. Matt Stanley. Streitenberger graduated from Wright State University in 2008.
John Seaton
John Seaton serves as the associate director of bands at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, an arts magnet school in the Clark County (Las Vegas) School District servicing students from one of the largest school districts in the country. His responsibilities include co-conducting the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, conducting the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and teaching woodwind techniques, chamber music, and music theory.
Cliff Towner
Cliff Towner, Ph.D., is director of band activities and associate professor of music at Georgia College and State University. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Symphony and Jazz Band, as well as teaching classes in conducting and music education.
