Honor Band Festival a rousing success

The 43rd edition of the Frost School of Music’s annual Honor Band Festival welcomed 286 student musicians from 50-plus high schools across Florida on campus for a full weekend of concerts, masterclasses, and rehearsals. More than 500 students applied for this year’s program, which began with auditions on the first morning.

“Students auditioned, then placed in ensembles, and began rehearsing that afternoon to play a concert the next day,” said Michael Hancock, director of bands at the Frost School as well as conductor of the Frost Wind Ensemble. “It was a very intense weekend of music-making. Honor Band Festival is an opportunity for us to bring the students and directors of South Florida to our campus and revel in a shared musical experience. This event is highly sought after by high school students.”

Students were placed in three different ensembles, each of which performed a concert at Gusman Concert Hall alongside the Frost Wind Ensemble. The program also included masterclasses taught by Frost School faculty and studio teaching assistants.

“Anytime we can make music together here with our partners in music education and grow students, it’s a spectacular thing,” said Hancock. “We really try to pull out all the stops with it.”

This was Hancock’s first year overseeing the event. This year’s program received overwhelmingly positive reviews from participants.

“It went swimmingly,” Hancock said. “I always ask directors and students how they felt it was run, and just about everyone said this was one of the best they’ve ever attended. It’s a fantastic tradition that has continued over the years, providing a great opportunity for high school students and band directors to come onto campus and be part of our musical culture at the Frost School of Music.  We are already working on ways to make it even better next year.”