Honor Bands
Honor bands are THE BEST way for students to take a step forward in their playing and to get serious about music. Honor band is an intensive 2-3 day experience, in which students spend 8-12 hours rehearsing with a guest conductor (usually a college or other well-regarded conductor), culminating in a performance.
There are honor bands at different levels of significance/difficulty, so there are options for every student. Below is a list of honor bands, and some information for each, in increasing level of challenge.
Region V Honor Band
Usually mid-November at North Tahoe High School
Approximately 25-35 students attend from Truckee High School
Organization Website: http://www.cmea-northern.com/events.html
Open to most students with no audition required. Students indicate in class if they are interested in attending. Priority goes to upper classmen, but Freshman may still go if there is room in their section. Students new to THS will be asked to prepare something very short and basic to play for the Mr. Steele in private. Basic proficiency on your instrument is required for this honor band, but you don't need to be a virtuoso.
Sierra College Honor Band
Early December at Sierra College Rocklin
Requires 1 night hotel stay
Audition recordings are due to Mr. Steele by mid-November.
Approximately 10-15 students attend
Organization Website: TBC
This is the most achievable honor band after Region V. It is by audition only, and audition music will be available in the band room. Mr. Steele will help those who are interested with the music. The event is generally early December from a Thursday evening to Friday.
There are honor bands at different levels of significance/difficulty, so there are options for every student. Below is a list of honor bands, and some information for each, in increasing level of challenge.
Region V Honor Band
Usually mid-November at North Tahoe High School
Approximately 25-35 students attend from Truckee High School
Organization Website: http://www.cmea-northern.com/events.html
Open to most students with no audition required. Students indicate in class if they are interested in attending. Priority goes to upper classmen, but Freshman may still go if there is room in their section. Students new to THS will be asked to prepare something very short and basic to play for the Mr. Steele in private. Basic proficiency on your instrument is required for this honor band, but you don't need to be a virtuoso.
Sierra College Honor Band
Early December at Sierra College Rocklin
Requires 1 night hotel stay
Audition recordings are due to Mr. Steele by mid-November.
Approximately 10-15 students attend
Organization Website: TBC
This is the most achievable honor band after Region V. It is by audition only, and audition music will be available in the band room. Mr. Steele will help those who are interested with the music. The event is generally early December from a Thursday evening to Friday.
NorCal and Capitol Honor Bands
Capitol: Early January in Sacramento (tentative dates 9-11, 2024) Guest conductor: Dr Kaitlin Bove NorCal: Early February, location varies each year between CSU Sonoma, Humboldt, Chico and Sac State Requires 2 nights hotel stay Auditions are due December 5th at 11:59pm for both honor bands. Approximately 3-8 students attend Organization Website: www.ncbcda.org/2024-honor-groups.html Both of these honor bands are highly competitive, extremely high-level bands. Students who make these are on track to receive music scholarships in college. The audition music for both bands is the mostly the same. NorCal has a jazz honor band as well. |
Honor Band Participants
2024 Capitol Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Max Fisher, Lela Hermosillo, Sierra Walker, Scarlet Wightman.
2024 Norcal Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Dylan Elste, Lela Hermosillo, Beau Laboissonniere, True Laboissonniere, Sierra Walker, Scarlet Wightman.
2023 Capitol Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Kinsey Lathbury, Kristan Robertson.
2023 Norcal Honor Band: Jill Booth, Tony Diaz, Lily Elliott, True Laboissonniere, Kinsey Lathbury, Scarlet Wightman.
2024 Capitol Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Max Fisher, Lela Hermosillo, Sierra Walker, Scarlet Wightman.
2024 Norcal Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Dylan Elste, Lela Hermosillo, Beau Laboissonniere, True Laboissonniere, Sierra Walker, Scarlet Wightman.
2023 Capitol Honor Band: Tony Diaz, Kinsey Lathbury, Kristan Robertson.
2023 Norcal Honor Band: Jill Booth, Tony Diaz, Lily Elliott, True Laboissonniere, Kinsey Lathbury, Scarlet Wightman.
All-State
Usually takes place in mid January in Sacramento
Requires 3 night hotel stay
Audition deadline October 15 for the following January
Approximately one student attends per year
Organization Website: https://cbda.org/all-state-ensembles/auditions/
The toughest, most prestigious, but most amazing honor band. This is for the most serious of music students. Audition music MUST BE PERFECT, with distinguishing traits being in the smallest of details. If you are auditioning for this, you should be seeking support with the music as soon as it is available in the spring. The audition music is expanded versions of the NorCal and Cap audition music.
Usually takes place in mid January in Sacramento
Requires 3 night hotel stay
Audition deadline October 15 for the following January
Approximately one student attends per year
Organization Website: https://cbda.org/all-state-ensembles/auditions/
The toughest, most prestigious, but most amazing honor band. This is for the most serious of music students. Audition music MUST BE PERFECT, with distinguishing traits being in the smallest of details. If you are auditioning for this, you should be seeking support with the music as soon as it is available in the spring. The audition music is expanded versions of the NorCal and Cap audition music.