Registration
Registration for the 2026 Illinois State Concert Band Festival will open on December 1, 2025.
Schedule
The 2026 schedule will be posted in early April. All visiting band performances are free of charge and open to the public.
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.
Concert Details
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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.
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Clinicians:
- Chris Gleason, Director of Bands, Patrick March MS (WI), Retired
- Jason Nam, Associate Director of Bands, Indiana University (IN)
- Mary Schneider, Director of Bands, Eastern Michigan University (MI)
- Ben Stiers, Percussion and Music Theory, Illinois State University
- Randy Sundell, Director of Bands, Vernon Hills HS (IL), Retired
- Brayer Teague, Director of Bands, Downers Grove North HS (IL), Retired
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Details
- This event is open to all junior high and high school bands on a first come basis.
- Registration fee is $500 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.