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HIgh School Honor Band

Audition Submission Deadline: Friday, September 26 by Midnight

Things to know

🎶 Audition & Participation Fees

  • Audition Fee: $5 (payable to the school you attend)

  • Participation Fee: $35 (if accepted, payable to the school you attend)

  • Non-Refundable: Once the online audition form is submitted, the audition fee cannot be refunded.

  • Notification: Directors of accepted participants will be notified by Tuesday, Sept. 30.

  • Payment Details: Pay fees to your school or your school’s music boosters. (Check with your teacher for instructions.)

How to Record your Audition

Rehearsal Dates

🎶 Honor Band Audition Video Instructions 🎶

Please read carefully before submitting your audition recordings!

✅ General Requirements

  • You must sign in with a Google account to upload your recordings.
    (All ESD students already have one, or you can use any Gmail account.)

  • Teacher supervision is not required – you can record on your own.

  • Video submissions only (no audio-only). Your video should clearly show:

    • Your face

    • Your hands

    • As much of your full body as possible

🎥 Recording Guidelines

  • Each etude = separate video

  • Percussionists: choose 2 out of 3 instruments and record all excerpts for those instruments.

  • Practice recording first to check your sound and camera angle.

  • Find the best distance from your device for clear sound quality.

📂 Video File Requirements

  • Each video must be under 100 MB.

    • (That’s about 1 min 20 sec at 1080p, 30fps.)

    • Many phones record at higher settings (e.g., 4K). Do not use 4K—it’s not needed.

  • Trim extra time (dead space at the start or end) to keep file sizes smaller.

📝 Before You Submit

  • Have all recordings ready before filling out the audition form.

  • Double-check your videos for sound, visibility, and file size.

Important Dates & Times

Mandatory Attendance 

⚠️ Please read carefully:
If you cannot attend ALL listed rehearsals and the concert, do not audition.
A missed rehearsal will result in removal from the group.
No exceptions.

Rehearsals @ Union High School

  • Tue, Oct 7 – Rehearsal #1
    ⏰ 5:00–8:00 PM

  • Thu, Oct 9 – Rehearsal #2
    ⏰ 5:00–8:00 PM

  • Wed, Oct 15 – Rehearsal #3
    ⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM

  • Thu, Oct 16 – Rehearsal #4 (Daytime)
    ⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Final Preparations & Performance

  • Fri, Oct 17 – Dress Rehearsal
    ⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM @ Union HS

  • Fri, Oct 17 – Concert
    ⏰ 7:00 PM @ Union HS

guest conductors

High School Honor Band
Paul photo cropped.jpeg

About

Paul Bain will join the music faculty at Western Washington University this fall as a visiting Assistant Professor of Music and the Interim Director of Bands. He will conduct the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band and teach courses in conducting.

 

Prior to joining WWU, Paul was Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Central Washington University where he led the instrumental music education program and conducted the CWU Symphonic Winds. Under his leadership, the Symphonic Winds performed at the National Association for Music Education Northwest Division Conference as well at the Washington Music Education Association Conference.

Paul taught in the public schools for 18 years preceding his appointment at CWU. Most recently, he was band director at Graham Kapowsin High School for 13 years where his ensembles performed at numerous music educator conferences and collaborated with many university and international ensembles, including the Tamana High School Band from Tamana, Japan. Graham-Kapowsin and Tamana became sister bands in 2009 and performed together nine times, three in Japan and six in America.

In addition to his work in the public schools, Bain was the musical director of the South Sound Symphonic Band, principal conductor for the Washington Ambassadors of Music and worked with the Tacoma Youth Symphony. He is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator and has conducted numerous honor bands and performances across the country and internationally, including engagements in Japan, England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

A Pacific Northwest native, Paul grew up in Puyallup, WA and was inspired to be a music educator by many of his music teachers and mentors. His primary conducting teachers are Raydell Bradley and Timothy Salzman. He attended Pacific Lutheran University (BME 1999) and the University of Washington (MM 2009). Paul lives with his wife, Gahee, and their two dogs (Low Rider and Chuchis).

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS

 

  1. Please have any student fill out the form and return it to you with a check to your school or boosters. Paper forms should be due to you before September 30th

  2. You will receive an invoice for the audition fee payments from LCRMEA.  Please pay this as soon as possible as this will help to pay for music and other upfront fees.

  3. Judges will listen to students blind (except for percussion) and they will never interact with the audition subject.  This will ensure that teachers judging their own students can remain unbiased.

  4. Packets for accepted students will be compiled and sent via email.

  5. By auditioning, each student is already confirming their acceptance if chosen to participate in the honor group. (The paper registration form that they turn into you confirms that availability.)

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