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Honor Band Final Information

UAB Honor Band Festival - 2019

Deadline for Payment and Registration is November 8

Middle School Weekend
December 5-7 

2019 UAB Middle School Honor Band Schedule

High School Weekend
December 12-14 

2019 UAB High School Honor Band Schedule

NOTE: To students taking the ACT on December 8: We have made our schedule that day so you can take the ACT. As long as you are back by the 1 pm rehearsal, you are excused to miss the morning clinics.

For each student who will be attending the Honor Band Festival this year, a non-refundable registration fee of $75 must be paid either by making an online payment. In addition, there is an option for students to purchase 2 meals in advance for a small additional cost. These two meals—at $5.00 for pizza on Thursday evening and $7.00 for Firehouse Subs lunch on Friday) are the ONLY food accommodations that UAB is providing in advance. All other meal arrangements are the responsibility of directors/students/parents. We do recommend that students take advantage of the on-campus meal, as time between rehearsals is limited, and this will be the fastest way to accommodate students for these 2 meals.

Make Payment and Registration for Accepted Students

Registration forms should be completed online/on or before November 8.

*If you have any students who elect NOT to accept their position in the UAB Honor Bands this year, please notify our office IMMEDIATELY at (205) 975-2263 OR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we may contact our selected alternates and give them the necessary time to prepare for the Festival.

Fee and registration due by November 8:

All students will receive a UAB Honor Band Medal as well as a UAB Honor Band T-shirt.

  • Lodging

    It is imperative that you secure lodging arrangements for the selected applicants as soon as possible. Enclosed, you will find a list of hotels within the immediate vicinity of the UAB campus that will offer both competitive rates and comfortable accommodations. Neither the UAB Department of Music, the College of Arts and Sciences, nor the University itself accepts any responsibility for the actions or behavior of students while not involved with UAB Honor Band activities; it is the responsibility of both the student’s band director and/or parents to secure chaperones for this event.

    Hotel Information:

    These hotels are all located within a 10 to 12-block distance of the UAB Department of Music and the Alys Stephens Center.

    Hyatt Inn
    2024 4th Avenue South
    Birmingham, AL 35233
    (205) 322-8600

    Doubletree
    808 20th Street South
    (205) 933-9000

    Residence Inn Marriott
    821 20th Street South
    (205) 731-9595

    Homewood Suites
    1016 20th Street South
    (205) 703-9920

    **There are several other hotels within easy driving to UAB’s campus that you may choose.

    Restaurant Information:

    There are many restaurants within convenient distance to UAB and the Honor Band Festival. Some choices include:

    • Arby’s
    • McDonald’s
    • Burger King
    • Captain D’s
    • Waffle House
    • Subway
    • Chipotle
    • Taco Bell
    • McAlister’s Deli
    • Surin West
    • Roly Poly
    • Jim N Nicks
    • Starbucks
    • Tazikis
    • Newk’s
    • UAB Commons
    • Panera Bread
    • Full Moon BBQ

    There is a Starbucks Coffee Shop located across the street from the Hulsey Center in our student library.

  • Parking

    Parking on the UAB campus can be difficult unless you arrive in plenty of time prior to your commitment. UAB Parking Services is aware that we will have guests on campus for both Honor Band weekends, but this will require your cooperation as well. Please see the enclosed map for available parking options, as these are the only arrangements that have been secured. Along these lines, we strongly encourage carpooling for each school as a means to reduce unnecessary volume of traffic.

  • Check-in

    Check-in for the 2019 UAB Honor Band Festival will take place in the lobby of the Alys Stephens Center. In order to alleviate unnecessary transportation of large instruments (tuba, baritone, trombone, etc.), do not bring these into the registration area, as your assigned audition space will most likely be in another area of the Hulsey Center. During rehearsals, it is important that the storage of instrument cases is handled in an organized fashion – please store small instrument cases (flute, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, alto sax) underneath your chair, and large instrument cases in the rear of the rehearsal area on (or under) tables provided. Other items that will help the weekend progress smoothly are as follows:

    • All woodwind and brass players must bring a folding music stand.
    • Clarinet and Saxophone players should bring extra reeds.
    • ALL percussionists must bring their own sticks, brushes, and mallets (keyboard and timpani players included).
    • Snare drummers must bring their own snare drum (w/case and stand), and when possible bring the following: triangle (w/beaters), tambourine, and woodblock.
    • ALL PERFORMERS must bring a pencil to all rehearsals.

MS Information and Auditions

  • Upon notification of selection, there is a $75.00 non-refundable participation fee.
  • All students will receive a UAB Honor Band Medal as well as a UAB Honor Band T-shirt.
  • UAB Honor Band CDs, DVDs, and photos will be available for purchase at the festival.
  • Audition material will be:
    • 5 major scales and arpeggios of student’s choosing (minimum 1 octave, extra credit given for 2 or 3 octaves) at a tempo of quarter note = 80 in eighth notes; preferred articulation is slurred ascending, and tongued descending
    • the Technical exercise from the Alabama All-State requirements for 2020.
    • All exercises are from the Rubank Advanced Method, Volume 1, except percussion.
    • Sight-reading

**percussionists may audition on either snare, timpani, or keyboards, but more credit will be given to students who audition on 2 or more percussion instruments: The overall score will be a TOTAL of all three areas together; students who demonstrate skills in all areas will receive more credit than students who only prepare one (or two) areas.

  • Auditions will be Thursday, December 5th, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
  • The first rehearsal will be held from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm.
  • Directors, please contact Dr. Sean Murray, Dr. Gene Fambrough, or Dr. Cara Morantz if you can help with student auditions on either weekend.

HS Information and Auditions

  • Upon notification of selection, there is a $75.00 non-refundable participation fee.
  • All participating students will receive a UAB Honor Band Medal as well as a UAB Honor Band T-shirt.
  • UAB Honor Band CD’s, DVD’s, and photos will be available for purchase at the festival.
  • Audition material will be:
    • 12 major scales and arpeggios (minimum 1 octave, extra credit given for 2 or 3 octaves) at a tempo of quarter note = 120 in eighth notes, preferred articulation is slurred ascending, and tongued descending
    • the Technical exercise from the Alabama 2020 All-State requirements for the year.
    • Sight-reading

**percussionists may audition on either snare, timpani, or keyboards, but more credit will be given to students who audition on 2 or more percussion instruments: The overall score will be a TOTAL of all three areas together. Students who demonstrate skills in all areas will receive more credit than students who only prepare one (or two) areas.

  • Auditions will be Thursday, Dec. 12th, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
  • The first rehearsal will be held from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
  • Directors, please contact Dr. Sean Murray, Dr. Gene Fambrough, or Dr. Cara Morantz if you can help with student auditions on either weekend.

Some rules to follow during Honor Band Weekend

During the entire weekend, all students must refrain from the use of cell phones, candy, gum, food, or drinks (bottled water, however IS acceptable) while in any rehearsal area or any part of the Alys Stephens Center or the Hulsey Center. The ASC is not an official building of the UAB campus – it is an entirely separate entity which the Department of Music rents for the Honor Band Festival, and it must be treated with respect in order for this event to remain in this wonderful facility. It would be much appreciated if each director would stress this to his or her participants. It should also be noted that no flash photography or video camera lighting will be allowed during the concert performance on Saturday – professional videos, CDs and DVD recordings are available for each participant. In addition, there will be a unique UAB Honor Band Participant plaque available for purchase the day of the concert.

The cost for videos or CDs is $20/ea. These may be ordered at the concert on Saturday.

Please see the enclosed schedule for exact times of events that are taking place throughout the 2019 UAB Honor Band Festival. Once again, we are looking forward to having your terrific students participate with our outstanding clinicians over the weekend. We hope to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding musical experience to all participants. Do not hesitate to call or e-mail if you have any further questions or comments that we can address. We look forward to meeting you and your students!

UAB Bands Contact Information