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78 Honor Band

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The 78 Honor Band is open to high school and middle school students who attend a school a school in one of the following school districts:

 

  • Escondido Union High School District

  • Escondido Union Elementary School District

  • San Marcos Unified School District

  • Vista Unified School District

  • Oceanside Unified School District

  • Carlsbad Unified School District

  • Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District 

  • Ramona Unified School District

  • Fallbrook Union High School District

  • Fallbrook Union Elementary School District

  • San Dieguito Union High School District

 

For 2025, rehearsals will be February 13-15th with the concert on February 15th. Students are selected to participate in the 78 honor band by audition. More information can be found below.

2024 Important Dates

Title
Date
Location
Auditions Open
12/09/2024
Online
Auditions Close
01/10/2025
Online
Students notified of results
01/30/2025
Email
Rehearsal #1
02/13/2025
San Marcos High School
Rehearsal #2
02/14/2025
San Marcos High School
2024 Honor Concert
02/15/2025
San Marcos High School
HS Symphonic Band Sound Check
02/15/2025
San Marcos High School
HS Wind Ensemble Sound Check
02/15/2025
San Marcos High School
MS Symphonic Band Sound Check
02/15/2025
San Marcos High School

78 Honor Band Goals & Philosophy

The 78 Honor Bands project is an opportunity for all secondary music programs in the northernmost area of San Diego County to come together to create opportunities for students. 

 

The goals of the project are as follows: 

  1. Promote the highest quality possible music making 

  2. Give the opportunity to students to perform literature they may not be able to play with their own programs

  3. Give students the opportunity to work with renowned conductors and educators

  4. Provide students at smaller programs the opportunity to perform in ensembles with full instrumentation

  5. Provide students a challenging musical environment which pushes their growth

  6. Give students and directors ideas they may take back to their own programs 

Audition Information

Students will submit auditions online. Beginning Monday December 9, 2024 students will be able to access the registration information and submit their auditions online. There is no fee to register, students need only to complete the registration form and upload their audition recording. If accepted to the 78 honor band, there is a participation fee of $60. Our goal is that no student will be excluded because of an inability to pay the fee. If you would like information about financial assistance email your band manager after you receive the acceptance email and they will assist you. 

 

Audition Excerpts:

 

For middle school students, we will be using the GMEA All State lyrical excerpts. The required scales are Bb, Ab and Bb chromatic, all one octave. To register, access the music, and submit your auditions, please join this google classroom:

https://classroom.google.com/c/NzI5MTI5NTQwNDkz?cjc=rp7ubog

For high school students there are two sets of excerpts to choose from. The GMEA all state excerpts are slightly easier and the CBDA all state excerpts are slightly harder. Students can audition with either set of excerpts and are eligible for both bands regardless of which excerpts they use. The CBDA all state excerpts will be given more weight in determining chair and band placement. 

HS GMEA Excerpts

HS CBDA Excerpts (you will need to order the music on this list)

Band Managers

A dedicated team of music educators serves as the band managers for the 78 honor band. They represent some of the finest music programs across the 78 corridor. 

Shannon McInnis

MS Symphonic Band Manager

San Elijo MS

Chris Coughlin

HS Wind Ensemble Manager

Mission Hills HS

Anastasia Homes

MS Symphonic Band Manager

San Elijo MS

Goeff Radant

HS Wind Ensemble Manager

San Marcos HS

Zachary Squibb

MS Symphonic Band Manager

Madison MS

Eric Weirather

HS Wind Ensemble Manager

Rancho Buena Vista HS

Derek Lee

HS Symphonic Band Manager

Fallbrook HS

Previous 78 Honor Bands

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2024 

Dr. Dustin Barr, Conductor

2023 

Dr. Gary Hill, Conductor

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