Band Events
The School of Music is home to concerts and events of all styles. Our students, faculty, and guest artists perform both in and outside of our concert halls to UofL and community audiences. We invite you to check out our many opportunities including general concerts, student recitals, and the larger scale special events of our school.
Special Events
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
This annual workshop is an excellent (and free!) opportunity for high school wind, brass, and percussion students to receive masterclasses from our very own School of Music faculty and their graduate teaching assistants on their upcoming KMEA All-State auditions. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the School of Music lobby. The workshop will run from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Band Directors will need to fill out the Enrollment Form for their students, and students will need to complete the Student Registration Form to bring to registration.
Please see the links below for the Letter, Enrollment Form, and Student Registration Form for this year’s All-State Workshop. Enrollment Forms are due by Friday, September 13.
2024 ASW Student Registration Form
Note: If you are attending the workshop with your students, then the YPP Form is not required. However, if your students are attending on their own, the YPP Form must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. All YPP forms must be submitted by Friday, September 13.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
UofL Bands is proud to announce a call for UofL Band Alumni for our 2024 Alumni Band!
UofL Homecoming will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the UofL versus University of Miami football game at L&N Cardinal Stadium! All UofL Band Alumni are invited to attend this game and perform at halftime with the UofL Cardinal Marching Band! For a special invitation from our CMB staff, please click here.
Information about Alumni Band
The Alumni Band provides an opportunity for alums to march and perform with the current students of the Cardinal Marching Band. The event starts 5 hours prior to kick-off and includes a music rehearsal in Cardinal Stadium. Alumni Band members will have the opportunity to perform at half-time. Participants must bring their instrument. Storage space and music will be provided after registration is complete.
After completing registration, participants must purchase tickets ($30) and submit the registration fee ($30). Registration includes field access at halftime, an alumni band shirt and a pregame meal with the CMB.
More details, including a schedule, parking instructions, stadium directions, and other information will be emailed to participants closer to the performance date.
Saturday, October 5, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
UofL Band Day will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 as the Cards take on Southern Methodist University at L&N Football Stadium in Louisville!
Please note, registration must be completed by high school band directors before September 10, 2024, whether 1 student or many students are attending from a school. Parents of interested students, please ask your high school band director to register your student musician. The links below are available for all band directors:
2024 Band Day Registration Form
2024 Band Day Guard Choreography
2024 Music for Winds/Percussion – Emailed to Band Directors/Head Chaperone
Information about our Band Day
The UofL Cardinal Marching Band “Band Day” provides an opportunity for high school band directors and their community (students and parents) to see a collegiate marching band and football team at their best. Each year, hundreds of students perform with the CMB at Cardinal Stadium, home of a major NCAA Division 1 football and marching band program. The event starts 5 hours prior to kick-off and includes observing a CMB rehearsal in Cardinal Stadium, food, and admission to the game. Students will also have the opportunity to perform at half-time! Other special performances by the CMB will include Card March and Pre-Game. Participants must bring their instrument, copy of music, and a bag lunch or money for concessions. Music will be provided after registration is complete. T-Shirts for student participants will be provided upon arrival.
We will contact participating schools concerning registration, bus parking, stadium directions, and other information throughout the Fall season.
Attention all UofL Band Alums! Signup for Basketball Alumni Bands!
Assorted events throughout Winter Break!
Saturday, May 18, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
Join the UofL Cardinal Marching Band Drum Line on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10am – 4pm for a FREE, hands-on clinic with our instructors. This interactive workshop outlines the CMB’s musical and technical philosophies and will give all attendees a jump start on audition preparation. This FREE clinic is open to all high school students who are serious about drum line at the collegiate level. Attendees should bring appropriate instruments, sticks, practice pad, and ear plugs.
All attendees must complete the online registration form at the bottom of this page.
Once registered, more information is below:
For more information, please contact the Band Office at ULBands@louisville.edu
Please note: lunch will NOT be provided for the event. Students must bring a sack lunch or money to order food.
Sunday, June 2 – Thursday, June 6, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
This ensemble is made up of talented high school and early collegiate musicians who are looking for an exciting and educational summer performance experience. Only students who have been nominated by their high school band director, private teacher, or one of our own University of Louisville faculty members are eligible. Dr. Speck will conduct the Honor Band, while other faculty will offer special workshops and master classes. Rehearsal and performance in the Honor Band will be a primary feature of the Wind Band Institute. In addition, there will be master classes and seminars for various instrument families regarding technique, stage etiquette, introductory conducting and preparing for successful auditions. There will be a “grand finale” concert on the final evening for parents, teachers, and the community to attend, free of charge. The middle school groups will perform first followed by the high school Honor Band. For more information regarding the Wind Band Institute, please email us at ULBands@louisville.edu
To nominate students, please click here.
Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, 2025
The Invitational Honor Band weekend brings together close to 200 high school students from Kentucky and neighboring states for a weekend of excellent music making. This is an invitation-only event and requires high school band directors, UofL faculty, or private instructors to complete a nomination form for their students. After the director/teacher sends in their nominations to the band office, students are carefully selected and sent an invitation from the UofL Band Department requesting their participation. Once participation is confirmed, audition music and additional details and materials about the Honor Band weekend are sent out as a separate mailing to invited students. The final event will feature a Saturday evening performance at 7:00 p.m. of the Honor Bands in Margaret Comstock Concert Hall at the School of Music.
Click here to nominate your students for the 27th Annual Invitational Honor Band. Please submit nominations by Friday, November 1, 2024. Early nominations will be appreciated!
Spring 2025
About
Under the direction of Dr. Amy Acklin, the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony will launch its inaugural season in January 2025 as the premiere honor wind band in surrounding KY, IN, and OH areas. Its purpose is to provide artistry level musical experiences for advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion high school students. Performing Grade 5 and Grade 6 collegiate and professional level repertoire, the LYWS will engage with masterworks and new music for full band and chamber ensemble. The LYWS is proud to serve in residence at the University of Louisville School of Music as an outreach program of the University of Louisville Bands.
Diversity
The Louisville Youth Wind Symphony is committed to building a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and will strive to uphold the tenets of the University of Louisville’s Vision for Diversity:
The University of Louisville strives to foster and sustain an environment of inclusiveness that empowers us all to achieve our highest potential without fear of prejudice or bias. We commit ourselves to building an exemplary educational community that offers a nurturing and challenging intellectual climate, a respect for the spectrum of human diversity, and a genuine understanding of the many differences-including race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and religion-that enrich a vibrant metropolitan research university.
Tuition
Tuition for the 2025 LYWS Season is $350 (nonrefundable) and due December 1.
Calendar and Attendance
The 2025 Louisville Youth Wind Symphony season runs from January – May with a culminating concert on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Rehearsals are held weekly on Sunday’s from 2:00-5:00pm at the University of Louisville School of Music.
Attendance at all rehearsals is mandatory. One personal absence is allowed for the season. Mandatory school events may be excused with prior notice to Dr. Acklin. No excused absences are allowed 2 weeks prior to the concert.
Timeline
- August 1, 2024: LYWS Application opens
- Mid-August: Audition excerpts available
- September 27, 2024: Application deadline
- October 4, 2024: Video Recorded Audition deadline
- November 1, 2024: Applicants notified of status via email
- December 1, 2024: Tuition deadline
- December 7, 2024: Concerto Competition Audition
- January 5, 2025: First rehearsal & Parent meeting
- May 10, 2025: Dress rehearsal with composer John Mackey
- May 11, 2025: Concert
Concerto Competition
The Louisville Youth Wind Symphony is honored to partner with the Louisville Concert Band to host its inaugural Concerto Competition and provide a solo performance opportunity with this professional ensemble. All LYWS students are eligible to audition. The winning student will be chosen through a competitive audition process and perform with the Louisville Concert Band on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Audition Details
- Students must be currently enrolled in the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony.
- Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students are eligible to apply.
- Students must be available for the rehearsals during the evenings of January 12, February 2, and February 16, 2025 and the performance date (February 23, 2025, 2 PM) with the Louisville Concert Band.
- Repertoire may include a solo, concerto, or selected movement(s) from a multi-movement work. Repertoire selections of the winning performer must be approved by the Music Directors of the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony and the Louisville Concert Band.
- Students will have 10 minutes of performance time allowed during the audition.
- A piano accompanist at the audition is optional.
- Chosen work must have an available band accompaniment available to rent or purchase.
- An application link with audition times will be sent on November 1 to all LYWS members.
- Audition Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024 (In-person at UofL School of Music)
Learn more about:
Sunday, June 2 – Thursday, June 6, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
Mirroring the rewarding experiences from the High School Wind Band Institute, the Middle School version is a day camp (9am – 5pm) for middle school students. Each day will include full ensemble rehearsals, master classes, theory instruction and an hour break for lunch. All students that are nominated by their directors are invited to participate in the camp. The camp will focus on performance instruction, comprehensive musicianship, playing techniques and theory skills. On check-in day, each student will complete a brief placement audition (from the music sent by mail before camp begins) and a brief theory exam to determine the appropriate placement within the ensemble and the most appropriate theory section. There will be a “grand finale” concert on the evening of June 6 for parents, teachers, and the community to attend, free of charge. The middle school groups will perform first followed by the high school Honor Band.
To nominate students, please click here.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
(2025 date coming soon!)
Join the UofL Cardinal Marching Band Color Guard on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10am – 4pm for a FREE, hands-on clinic with our instructors. This interactive workshop outlines the CMB’s musical and technical philosophies and is open to all high school students who are serious about color guard at the collegiate level. Participants should bring a flag (and optional rifle or saber).
All attendees must complete the online registration form at the bottom of this page.
Once registered, more information is below:
For more information, please contact the UofL Band office at: ULBands@louisville.edu
Please note: lunch will NOT be provided for the event. Students must bring a sack lunch or money to order food.