High School Honors Band
Honors Festival Announcements
The District 1 Honors Festival audition entries and forms are due Thursday, November 10. Be sure to submit your information well in advance to avoid any complications.
District 1 OMEA Honors Festival
January 18, 2026
Stranahan Theater and Great Hall - Toledo, Ohio
High School Honors Band
The High School Honors Band is chaired by Matt Shirey (mshirey@northwoodschools.org) of Northwood Schools.
Auditions
Directors must fill out the Director's Form. (The link for the Dropbox folder will be sent to you within 48 hours after filling out this form.)
Directors must fill out the Student Application Form.
Students must record the selected musical excerpt(s) for their instrument.
Directors must upload student recordings via Dropbox.
CHECK CURRENT FESTIVAL DEADLINE DATES ON THE HONORS FESTIVAL PAGE.
Directors must submit proof of OMEA membership, student medical forms, and the required participation fee of $40 per participant.
Students will not be allowed to participate if the fee is not received by the first rehearsal.
IMPORTANT FESTIVAL DEADLINES
- October 1: Online applications open. Application and recorded audition instructions for each ensemble available on District 1 website. Email sent by Festival Chair via District President notifying membership of the opening of the application process.
- November 10: Online application deadline; recorded audition submission deadline
- December 5: Notification of selected students to directors. Ensemble announcement package.
- December 12 (or next school day): Last day to withdraw accepted student without financial penalty.
- 3 weeks prior to festival: Participating directors submit student acceptance forms, fees and emergency medical forms to ensemble chairs.
Rehearsals and Guest Director Information
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE INFO
Rehearsal Wednesday, January 14 from 6-8:30 pm - Bowling Green High School
Rehearsal Saturday, January 17 from 9am-4pm - Bowling Green High School
Sunday, January 18 7pm performance @ Stranahan Theater, Toledo
Dr. Christopher Chapman is the Director of Bands for the Central Michigan University School of Music, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and coordinates the wind band conducting area. His ensembles have gained notoriety and praise from composers and audiences alike and have been featured in performance sites from Carnegie Hall to concert halls in the United States as well as Japan, China and Taiwan. Recent commercial recording projects include: The Five Changes; Currents; Scenic Meditations; and David Maslanka's Mass was produced by Mark Records.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Chapman holds degrees in music from The Ohio State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Washington. Dr. Chapman has appeared as a conductor, clinician and lecturer throughout the United States. He has also been a contributing author in A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band, a series of books on contemporary wind band composers for Meredith Music Publications, a subsidiary of the Hal Leonard Corporation and Teaching Music through Performance by GIA Publications. Dr. Chapman's wind band compositions and arrangements, published by Timberline Publications. He has served as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Canada.
