2024 George R. Boulden Honor Band Festival
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 musician.
Wind Ensemble
This elite ensemble of 50-60 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 Bobby Francis, Director of Bands at Texas Christian University.
Concert Band
This is our non-audition group for freshmen and sophomores by director recommendation only. Please limit your recommendations to 9th and 10th graders, and select juniors and seniors, up 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 Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, Directors of Bands at O’Fallon Township High School (IL).
Housing/Transportation
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
$131 per room per night (2 double beds)
Link to book rooms (deadline: January 1, 2024)
A limited shuttle service will be provided to students for transportation from the Holiday Inn Express to the University of Kentucky campus.
Honor Band Weekend Includes:
- The chance to perform a fantastic set of concert music with other band students from Kentucky and many other states.
- Work with our fabulous guest directors.
- Clinics/Masterclasses with the world-class UK music faculty.
- Attend a concert featuring the UK Wind Symphony and perform a combined piece with these musicians on the Honors concert.