High School Honors Music Festival at Mason
The High School Honors Music Festival at Mason is an annual 3 day music extravaganza, featuring Honor Symphonic Band, Honor Jazz Ensemble, and Honor Orchestra!
Every January, George Mason University's School of Music gathers talented young musicians for 3 days of intense musical immersion. The Festival features professional Mason School of Music faculty, who are focused on inspiring today's youth to achieve musical excellence through rigorous rehearsals and personal attention. The Festival also includes performances from Mason collegiate music ensembles, master classes from guest artists, and concludes with a public concert performance by the Festival participants in GMU's Center for the Arts. If you are an enthusiastic high school musician, you will find your next great musical adventure at Mason!
2012 High School Honors Music Festival
January 27-29, 2012
School of Music
George Mason University (Fairfax campus)
Registration Deadline: extension January 13, 2011*
*We advise you to apply early to secure your spot. Positions may still be open after the deadline (if online registration is closed, please call 703-993-9889 for availability).
REGISTRANTS: WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO (DISABLED)
Honors Music Festival Menu:
- How to Apply/ Festival Fees
- Audition Information (including School of Music auditions)
- Festival Schedule
- Festival Faculty
- Inclement Weather Policy
HOW TO REGISTER:
You may also send in a paper form* with payment to Potomac: *Please note that a $3 processing fee will be added to your total. |
Register Online Now! (DISABLED)Festival Coordinator: John Kilkenny, (571) 286-2796, jkilken1@gmu.edu
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How to Apply/ Festival Fees
Any student grade 9 through 12 currently enrolled in a band / orchestra program at a public or private school may apply for the Festival. Other students MUST first contact the Honor Band Festival Coordinator for approval. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012!
FEES: The 2012 Festival Fee is $75, which includes festival T-shirt, Master Classes by Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet and other professional groups, and dinner on Saturday.
PARKING: A Festival Parking Permit for Friday for Lot K is available for purchase during registration for $8 and may be picked up at Check-In on the first day. You may also park in the Mason Pond Parking Deck for an hourly/daily rate. Parking in Lot K is free on Saturday and Sunday. Quick Drop-off/Pick-up should be done in front of the Center for the Arts.
HOUSING: Housing options are available. Please contact the Festival Coordinator for more information.
After registering online through Potomac Arts Academy's system (recommended) or mailing in the paper form, you will receive registration confirmation and an electronic receipt via email. A welcome letter with detailed information and instructions will be sent to you mid-January.
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Audition Information (including university/scholarship auditions)
Festival Auditions
Auditions (for seating placement only) will occur at the start of the Festival. This is for seating placement only and does not affect your involvement in the Festival. FESTIVAL AUDITION REQUIREMENTS*:
| Honor Band/ Wind & Brass: - Major scales, full range of instrument - Prepared etude, selected from your District Band audition literature OR other appropriate solo repertoire. (approximately 2 minutes in length) |
| Honor Band/ Percussion: - Snare drum: rudiments & concert roll - Mallets: major scales and chromatic scale - Timpani: sight-reading and tuning exercise at the audition - Percussion students should prepare a solo on snare drum and either mallets or timpani. |
| Honor Orchestra (Strings): - Violin, Viola, Cello – 3 octave scales, Double Bass – 2 octave scales - All Major Scales (you will be asked at least two): All scales must be memorized; Scales should be played in quarter notes with the tempo for the quarter note set at 120 on the metronome; Bowings are Ascending (2 slurred, 2 martele'), Descending (4 slurred) - Prepared etude, selected from your District Orchestra audition literature OR other appropriate solo repertoire. (approximately 2 minutes in length) |
| Honor Jazz Ensemble: - Scales, sight-reading and improvisations on an F Blues |
* ALL STUDENTS: Be prepared to sight-read!
UNIVERSITY AUDITIONS - THURSDAY, JANUARY 26TH
For Acceptance & Scholarships to George Mason University 2011/12
High School seniors participating in the Honors Music Festival have the opportunity to audition for the School of Music on Thursday, January 26th. If you wish to schedule a university audition, you MUST contact Lynn Wildman (mwildman@gmu.edu). Please note, your audition for the School of Music will NOT count as your audition for seating placement in the Festival. Scholarship awards are available to those who successfully audition for the School of Music.
VISIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC WEBSITE NOW
University audition participants who wish to also apply for Scholarships for the 2011/12 academic year to the School of Music should indicate their intent when contacting Lynn Wildman. There is scholarship money available for both classical and jazz applicants. These auditions are separate from the Festival seating placement auditions.
VISIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC WEBSITE NOW
If you have any questions about the audition process, please contact the Festival Coordinator.
John Kilkenny: (571) 286-2796, jkilken1@gmu.edu
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2012 Honors Music Festival Schedule
All times are subject to change.
Thursday, January 26 (optional, for Seniors only)
University auditions/ Scholarship auditions for School of Music
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (see Auditions section for more info)
Friday, January 27
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Participant Arrival & Registration
de Laski Performing Arts Building lobby
4:30 pm - 4:45 pm Brief Orientation Meeting
de Laski Performing Arts Building
4:45 pm - 7:30 pm Festival Seating Placement Auditions
(see Auditions section for more info)
de Laski Performing Arts Building
8:00 pm Opening Concert MASON JAZZ
Harris Theatre
Saturday, January 28
8:00 am - 8:30 am Call time and individual warm up
de Laski Performing Arts Building lobby
8:30 am - 10:30 am Morning Rehearsals
Locations TBA
10:30 am - 11:30 am Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet, GMU String Faculty Masterclass, Mason String Quartet
Locations TBA
11:30 am - 12:45 pm Lunch (please bring bag lunch or cash)
Johnson Center (multiple food choices available)
12:45 pm - 5:00 pm Afternoon Rehearsals/ Sectionals
Locations TBA
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Dinner (FREE for participants)/ College Admissions Event
Southside Dining Hall (on campus)
6:15 pm - 7:30 pm College Session and Music Career Q&A
de Laski Performing Arts Building
7:30 pm Student dismissed/ Pick up
Center for the Arts
Sunday, January 29
11:00 am CALL TIME for ALL participants
Center for the Arts Concert Hall
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch (please bring bag lunch or cash)
Johnson Center (multiple food choices available)
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Final Call Time/ Warm Up
Backstage, Center for the Arts
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm FESTIVAL CONCERT (Free and open to the public)
Center for the Arts Concert Hall
4:30 pm Student dismissed/ Pick up
Center for the Arts
Participating students are required to attend all rehearsals and the final performance in their entirety.
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2012 Honors Music Festival Faculty
 Dr. Dennis Layendecker Honor Orchestra Director |
Dr. Dennis Layendecker (BM American Conservatory, MM Northwestern University, DMA, The Catholic University of America) began his term as Director of the George Mason University School of Music in June of 2010. In addition to his position as Director, he holds the Heritage Chair in Music and serves as Director of University Orchestras. During his 26year Air Force career, Dr. Layendecker served as a band commander, orchestra conductor, artistic director, pianist, educator, and diplomat for the Air Force at home and abroad, culminating in 2002, when he assumed command of The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. During his military career he led more than 6,000 musical performances worldwide in support of public outreach, community relations, troop morale and welfare, and recruitment and retention programs for the Air Force and Department of Defense. Prior to joining the Air Force, Dr. Layendecker served on the music faculties of The American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois and Eastern Washington University. |
 Prof. Mark Camphouse Honor Band Director |
Composer/conductor Mark Camphouse (BM, MM Northwestern University) is Professor and Associate Director of the School of Music at George Mason University where he conducts the Wind Symphony and teaches courses in conducting and composition. His 26 published compositions for wind band have received widespread critical acclaim and are performed frequently in the U.S. and abroad. He is also editor of the unique and highly respected 4-volume GIA Publications book series, Composers on Composing for Band. Camphouse is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and serves as coordinator of the National Band Association Young Composer Mentor Project. He has served as a guest conductor in 42 states, Canada, and Europe. Professor Camphouse is a recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia – the Commonwealth's highest honor for outstanding achievement in teaching, research, and public service. |
 Prof. James Carroll Honor Jazz Director |
Jim Carroll (BM, MM Indiana University) has a diverse performance career including appearances at Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, The White House, Yokohama Stadium, The Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall and the Apollo Theatre. As a versatile performer Mr. Carroll has worked with Michael Jackson, Clark Terry, Nancy Wilson, Maynard Ferguson, Billy Taylor, Zoot Sims, Keter Betts, The Columbus Symphony, The Indianapolis Symphony, The Indiana Saxophone Quartet, Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd, The Jazz Arts Group, The Great American Music Ensemble, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and others. Carroll is currently leader and Artistic Director of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. Active as an educator, he teaches at the Jamey Abersold jazz workshops and is Director of Instrumental Studies, Jazz Studies and Chair of the CVPA Faculty at George Mason University. |
 Prof. John Kilkenny Festival Coordinator |
John Kilkenny (BM Juilliard School, MM Temple University) has studied with Alan Abel, Greg Zuber, Dan Druckman, and Jonathan Haas. He has performed with National Symphony, Washington Opera, Washington Chamber Symphony, Washington Ballet, American Symphony, National Repitory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Aspen Music Festival. Chamber music appearances with the Focus Festival of Contemporary Music, Washington Symphonic Brass, Prism Brass Quintet, Spotlight on Contemporary music, Piccolo Spoleto, John Tafoya, Greg Zuber, Peter Erskine, Robert Van Sice. John has appeared at the 2003, 2005, 2007 Bands of America National Percussion Festival, 2003 Virginia music Educators Conference, and the 2002 Virginia DC day of Percussion. Currently, John teaches Percussion at GMU. |
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2012 Honors Music Festival Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of inclement weather, the Festival will follow the Fairfax County Public Schools decision regarding activity delay/cancellation. Please go to the FCPS website for updates. In the unfortunate event of cancellation, full refunds will be issued, and we will provide as many alternative suggestions as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the festival coordinator John Kilkenny at jkilken1@gmu.edu.
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