Music Festivals

The MSBSD is proud to host district- and region-level music festivals for its students. 

Please note that each festival has different requirements for participation and that audition upload deadlines listed below are for teachers.  Music teachers will set internal deadlines for students to turn auditions in, and those deadlines will vary by school.  For the most accurate deadlines for your student, please check in with your school's music teacher(s).

 

ASAA All-State Band, Choir and Orchestra, November 20-22 at Bettye Davis High School in Anchorage

• An MSBSD teacher or private music teacher must be present during the recording of all auditions for ASAA All-State Band, Choir, and Orchestra.
• Audition information can be found here. Please remember that ASAA deadlines may differ from school deadlines.  For the most accurate information about deadlines, please check with your student's music teacher.

 

Region III and II Large Group Festival, February 10 at Colony High School

The Region III Large Group Festival is primarily an educational opportunity with a focus on creating a positive learning experience for participants while also providing adjudicated feedback for students and professional development opportunities for teachers. Participating ensembles will be determined by music teachers; there are no audition requirements.

 

MSBSD Secondary Honor Festival, March 26-27 at Colony High School

The Mat-Su Borough Secondary Honor Festival is primarily an educational opportunity with a focus on creating a positive learning experience for participants in band, choir, and orchestra and professional development for teachers.

All MSBSD band, choir, and orchestra students audition for Honor Festival; adjudicators score auditions, and those scores determine participants and first chair placements each year.  Audition deadlines may vary depending on the school and music program.  Please note that these deadlines are set internally by each program, and the district will not be able to override or extend them. 

• Deadline for teachers to upload student auditions: prior to winter break in December
• Festival dates: March 26-27 during the school day
• Concert: March 27 at 6:00 PM at Colony High School

 

Region III Solo & Ensemble Music Festival, April 7 at Wasilla High School

Solo & Ensemble enables outstanding high school musicians to perform as soloists or in small ensembles. The festival promotes the highest standards of musicianship and aims to foster and inspire technical achievement, aesthetic understanding, and critical listening skills in its students.  This event is a qualifying event for ASAA All-State Solo & Ensemble.

• For students whose aim is to qualify for the State event: if the musical piece being performed includes music for an accompanist, you must have an accompanist at the regional event in order to qualify for state.
• The deadline for teachers to register students for Solo & Ensemble is Monday, March 6 at the end of the school day.
• Students will be scheduled to perform between 3:00 and 7:00 PM. Special scheduling requests need to be made at the time of registration.

 

MSBSD Elementary Honor Festival, April 23 at Palmer High School

Elementary Honor Festival celebrates the technical achievement and enthusiasm of beginning band students. For audition information, please check in with your student's music teacher.

• The honor festival takes place during the school day.  The concert will be at 5:00 PM the same day as the festival at Palmer High.

If you have any questions about these or other music festivals or events, please reach out to the district's Fine Arts Coordinator, Nikki Henry, here.