2026 Austin Peay Honor Band
February 26-28, 2026
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
We are delighted to announce the 2026 installment of our annual APSU Honor Band! We are proud to offer some improvements to our event. Specifically, the addition of a NEW band, the “festival band” for students in low enrollment schools, in addition to our existing 7-9 and 10-12 grade Honor Bands. We will also have optional VIDEO AUDITIONS for the 10-12 band. This year’s clinicians are Jack Eaddy (Associate Director of Bands at the University of Georgia), Katie Hoey (Assistant Director of Bands at Timber Creek High School) and J.R. Baker (Director of Fine Arts, Robertson County Schools & Present-Elect of the Tennessee Music Educators Association). We are proud to host John Mackey, the most celebrated modern composer for wind band as our guest composer, John Mackey, who will be working with both student performers and directors/teachers during the festival.
HONOR BAND ENSEMBLES
10-12 Honor Band: Applications have an optional video audition on music provided in the application. Videos should have the performer’s face visible and uploaded as an private video on YouTube. Students from small schools may apply for this band, but a video is required.
7-9 Honor Band: Acceptance and ranking is based on Director recommendation, which are initiated by the student, and sent to Directors by APSU after the application window has closed. Students from small schools may apply for this band, but will be competing for positions with students from all schools.
Festival Band: Only students currently in grades 9-12 who attend schools with an enrollment of 599 or fewer (at the 9-12 level) may apply for this ensemble. Acceptance and ranking is based on Director recommendation, which are initiated by the student, and sent to Directors by APSU after the application window has closed.
October – Applications open
Sunday Dec. 7 – Deadline for applications
Wednesday, December 19 – Notification of acceptances
Sunday, January 18 – Deadline to finalize registration
Thursday, February 26 – 2026 Austin Peay Honor Band & Orchestra Festival begins
A mandatory meeting will be held at 6:30pm Thursday, February 26 in the APSU Concert Hall. The meeting is mandatory for participating students and either the Band Director or designated adult from the School. Ensemble rehearsals will continue through 9:30pm Thursday night. Friday’s rehearsals will take place from 9am until 9pm with a special afternoon concert featuring the APSU Wind Ensemble. Saturday activities will start at 9am, and the three closing concerts will begin at 1pm with the final concert concluding at 4pm.
All students applying are required to either be active in their local school band program, or not attending their local school (virtual/homeschool).
Audition Excerpts: Click Here
The application can be found here: APSU Honor Band and Full Orchestra Application – Fill out form. Your director or private teacher must be indicated and will be contacted to complete your application.
If you are notified of selection, you will have until January 18, 2026 to complete your registration, including the $50 nonrefundable registration fee, which includes lunch and dinner on Friday.
As explained in the section above, applications will be initiated by the individual student. As part of that application, they will provide contact information for a director or private teacher, who must complete the brief recommendation in order for the student to be considered. Recommendations forms will be sent to directors/teachers after the closing of applications, December 7, and will be due by December 14.
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