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Illinois State Concert Band Festival

Overview

The annual Illinois State Concert Band Festival is open to both junior high and high school bands in order to accommodate school schedules and to provide opportunities for bands of all ability levels.

Illinois State Concert Band Festival logo

Concert Details

  • Venue

    Bands will perform in the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public. Recordings of each performance will be made for each band.

  • Clinicians:

    • Brian Covey, Director of Bands, Lockport Township HS (IL)
    • Tom Dean, Director of Bands, Castle HS (IN), Retired
    • Arris Golden, Assistant Director of Bands, Michigan State University
    • Randy Greenwell, Director of Bands, Lawrence Central HS (IN), Retired
    • Corey Pompey, Associate Director of Bands, University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • Ben Stiers, Percussion and Music Theory, Illinois State University
  • Details

    • This event is open to all junior high and high school bands on a first come basis.
    • Registration fee is $450 for each band entered in the event.
    • After each band performs in the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts, one clinician will work individually with the students.
    • Ensembles will receive:
      • A professional recording of their performance
      • Taped comments from clinicians
    • Bands will be asked to attend the performances of at least two other bands.
    • Bands will have the opportunity to attend a performance at no cost by either the Illinois State University Wind Symphony on Friday evening or the Illinois State University Symphonic Winds on Saturday evening.
  • Invited Bands

    • Invited Bands receive the same opportunities as the other ensembles with additional experiences including:
      • A virtual clinic with their assigned clinician prior to their appearance at the festival
      • A dedicated evening performance at the end of each festival day
      • Complimentary tickets for all band members to attend a short evening concert by one of the Illinois State University Bands

    • 2025 Invited Bands
      • Invited Bands for 2025 will be announced in the Fall.