Coe College Honor Bands

Coe College Honor Bands 2026

Elementary Honor Bands - April 18, 2026

Junior and Senior Honor Bands - April 12 & 19, 2026

Nominations open in January 2026

Submit your nominations using one of the following two links:
Nomination Database Template (please download and rename before using)
Please email your completed database to Honor Bands Administrator, Chelsea Dunn - chelsea.k.dunn@gmail.com

OR
Use this online form:
Nomination/Application Form

Concert tickets for the Honor Bands should be ordered in advance:

PURCHASE TICKETS USING A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD.

Tickets will be available for purchase (cash only) in the lobby of Sinclair Auditorium before the concerts, but lines could be very long. We strongly recommend purchasing the tickets online in advance at coe.universitytickets.com.

General Admission $8.00

Under 18, Over 65, $5.00

Eligibility:

The Coe College Elementary Honor Bands are open to students in grades 4, 5 and 6.
Most 4th graders should be nominated for the Crimson Honor Band, while most 5th and 6th graders should be nominated for the Gold Honor Band.
The Coe College Junior Honor Band is open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
The Coe College Senior Honor Band is open to students in grades 9 through 12.

Based on the nominations, a committee at Coe College will select the bands: two Elementary Honor Bands (approximately 100 members each), one Junior Honor Band and one Senior Honor Band (approximately 100 members each). 6th grade students may be nominated for either the Elementary Honor Band or the Junior Honor Band. Every school submitting nominations will have at least one student selected.

Important Dates:

Monday, January 5, 2026 - Online nominations open
Monday, February 16, 2026 - Online nominations close
Monday, March 2 - Friday, March 13, 2026 - Selections announced, music delivered
Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Junior and Senior Honor Band chair auditions and rehearsal

Schedule:

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Junior and Senior Honor Bands Rehearsals and Auditions

Junior and Senior Honor Bands

12:30 – Check-in – Sinclair Lobby
1:00 – Rehearsals and Chair Auditions (Junior on stage, Senior in Room 1)
5:00 – Rehearsal ends

Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Coe Elementary Honor Bands

Schedule

Crimson Band

8:45 AM - Check-in (Sinclair Lobby)
9:00 AM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (1)
9:40 AM - 10 Min BREAK
9:50 AM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (1)
10:30 AM - 10 Min BREAK
10:40 AM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (1)
11:20 AM - 1 Hour Lunch (dining hall)
12:20 PM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (S)
1:05 PM - 15 Min BREAK
1:20 PM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (S)
1:55 PM - (conductors switch locations)
2:00 PM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (S)
2:30 PM - BREAK
3:00 PM CONCERT (On Stage)

Gold Band

8:45 AM - Check in (Sinclair Lobby)
9:00 AM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (S)
9:40 AM - 10 Min BREAK
9:50 AM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (S)
10:30 AM - 10 Min BREAK
10:40 AM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (S)
11:20 AM - 10 Min BREAK
11:30 AM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (S)
12:20 PM - 1 Hour LUNCH (dining hall)
1:20 PM - Rehearsal with Mr. Sims (1)
1:55 PM - (conductors switch locations)
2:00 PM - Rehearsal with Ms. Benson (1)
2:30 PM - BREAK (Move to Sinclair Balcony)
3:00pm CONCERT (Seated for concert)

(S) Sinclair Auditorium stage

(1) Marquis Room 1 (basement)

Sunday, April 19, 2025 - Junior & Senior Honor Bands

Junior Honor Band

1:00 PM – Rehearsal on Sinclair Stage
3:40 PM – Break
3:50 PM – Return to stage and tune
4:00 PM – Concert

Senior Honor Band

1:00 PM – Rehearsal in Marquis Hall, Room 1
3:45 PM – Break, move to Sinclair Balcony for the first half of the concert
4:00 PM – Concert

2026 Conductors:

Guest Composer and Arranger A drian Sims

Elementary Guest Conductor: Kim Benson

Kim Benson

Learn more about Kim Benson HERE.

The Coe College Junior Honor Band will be directed by Steve Shanley and the Coe College Senior Honor Band will be directed by Dr. William S. Carson.

Announcing the 2027 Festival of Bands Guest Composer:

Randall Standridge

Learn more about Randall Standridge here!

Fees:

There is a $20.00 registration fee for students selected to the Elementary Honor Band and a $25.00 fee for students selected to the Junior and Senior Honor Bands. This fee will include lunch for the Elementary Honor Bands on April 18.

All Honor Band participants are encouraged to attend the Coe College Concert Band performance on Saturday, April 18, at 7:00 pm, with guest conductor Adrian Sims.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of the organizers:

Chelsea Dunn - chelsea.k.dunn@gmail.com

Dr. William S. Carson - bands@coe.edu

Dr. Steve Shanley - sshanley@coe.edu

Directions to Coe College.