Dorian Band Festival
February 28- March 1, 2027
Calling all music educators!
Each year, we invite educators to nominate talented high school musicians to participate in the Dorian Band Festival. Hundreds of students are selected to take part in this exciting and enriching experience, where they are placed in one of several festival ensembles.
In addition to rehearsals and performances, participants have the opportunity to work one-on-one with college faculty through a private lesson or coaching session. These sessions may provide individualized instruction, serve as an audition opportunity for featured solo performances, or fulfill scholarship audition requirements for students considering future study at the college.
Festival participants also enjoy performances by the college’s premier ensembles and featured student soloists. The event culminates in a final concert showcasing the festival ensembles and celebrating the accomplishments of all participants.
The Dorian Music Festival offers an inspiring environment for students to develop their musicianship, connect with peers who share their passion for music, and experience life in a vibrant collegiate music community.
Band Festival Resources
Check back for an updated schedule!
Click the tab below to find the packing list. If you are staying overnight on campus – please be sure to bring a sleeping bag and pillow.
Use the following map of campus to find the Center for Faith and Life (main concert hall), Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Dahl Centennial Union, as well as parking.
Additionally, you’ll be able to use the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music map to locate lessons, auditions, sectionals, and rehearsals for Symphonic Band and Jazz Band.
Dorian Band Festival Audition Requirements
- Mass Bands: No Video Audition Requirement. Selection is based on the teacher nomination form.Â
- Symphonic Band: Video Audition Required
- Piccolo, flute, clarinet, oboe, all saxophones, bassoon, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium TC, euphonium BC, tuba, double bass (acoustic, upright).
- Video Audition will include:Â
- A 90 second – 2 minute recording of a solo or etude that showcases both lyrical and technical ability of the student. The passage can be no longer than two minutes.
- A chromatic scale featuring the student’s full range on their instrument
- If accepted into the Symphonic Band, we will assign you to a part and the appropriate music will be shared with teachers. From there, an in-person audition on the Sunday of the festival will take place for chair placement. In the case of smaller numbers in a section, the in-person chair placement audition element may be eliminated for certain instruments.
- Video Audition will include:Â
- Percussion
- Video Audition will include:Â
- Submit two recordings, each one 90 seconds – 2 minutes. One should feature a solo or etude on a keyboard instrument, and the other a solo or etude on a battery instrument. No scales are necessary.
- Additionally, please answer the following questions in your video submission, or send a separate email with the answers to these questions: Do you have any piano experience? If so, how many years? What instrument do you play the most in band (mallets, battery, auxiliary etc.) What solos have you recently performed?
- Video Audition will include:Â
- Piccolo, flute, clarinet, oboe, all saxophones, bassoon, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium TC, euphonium BC, tuba, double bass (acoustic, upright).
- Jazz Band: Video Audition Required
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- Video Audition will include:
- Play the jazz excerpts specified for the instrument: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drum-set. AUDITION EXCERPTS FOUND HERE.Â
- A chromatic scale from the lowest to the highest note that the student can play comfortably. The tempo should be quarter note = 140 BPM, played all slurred ascending and all tongued descending.
- (Optional) Improvise on a jazz standard or a blues tune of the student’s choice. The improvisation may be accompanied by a play-along recording. Play first the melody and then take two choruses.Â
- Video Audition will include:
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Contact Information
Ian Rocker
Assistant Director of Music OutreachÂ
Email: rockia01@luther.edu
or dorian@luther.edu
Phone: 563-387-1389