George R. Boulden Honor Band Weekend features two fantastic bands and lots of opportunities to learn, grow, and share in a once-in-a-lifetime experience with giants of the wind band world and other band students.
Entrance into the Honors Concert Band is based on high school director recommendation and all names must be submitted by director and not by student.
Entrance into the Honors Wind Ensemble will be based on a personal application and audition recording submitted by each student musician.
This elite ensemble of 60-80 musicians is open to all high school band members grades 9-12 and will be selected through application and recorded audition.
The Honors Wind Ensemble conductor will be Scott Boerma, Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, where he conducts the University Wind Symphony and Western Winds. Prior to this appointment, he was the Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Michigan Marching Band, and the Donald R. Shepherd Associate Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan. Before those positions, Dr. Boerma was the Director of Bands at Eastern Michigan University, and he began his career teaching music in the Michigan public schools at Novi and Lamphere High Schools.
Wind Ensemble Audition deadline: December 3rd, 2025
This is our non-audition group open to all high school band members grades 9-12 by director recommendation only. Please limit your recommendations to 20% of your ensemble's size. Rank your student recommendations from top to bottom. Part assignments will be made to properly balance the ensemble.
The Honors Concert Band conductor will be Carol Brittin Chambers, composer and arranger. She is currently the composer and owner of Aspenwood Music and a highly sought-after conductor and clinician. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, where she is also on the music faculty at Texas Lutheran University, teaching composition and serving as Composer in Residence.
Concert Band Nomination deadline: December 5th, 2025
Housing and transportation is not provided. Families and band programs are welcome to book their own rooms at any hotel they choose. We have reserved a block at:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel Downtown
1000 Export Street, Lexington, KY 40504
Phone 859.389.6800
A limited shuttle service will be provided to students for transportation from the Holiday Inn Express to the University of Kentucky campus
Once the roster is announced and finalized, please plan to provide the registration fee of $75 per student. A link to a payment form will be sent to band directors and accepted students once the roster has been finalized. Payment of this fee may come from individuals or home band programs as organized by the band director. Pre-payment is available with credit card only. NO CASH IS ACCEPTED THIS YEAR. Advance payment is mandatory to reserve your spot in the ensemble.
If a school is paying by check or money order, that will be accepted on site.
The $75 fee includes:
