MusicAlliance Inc - Honor Bands

MusicAlliance Honor Band Programs

The Honor Bands exist to give outstanding middle school and junior high band students in the Cleveland metropolitan area the opportunity to play music of a more advanced level than is normally possible in their regular school bands and is a wonderful chance for the band members to meet other talented young musicians from many other area schools. Selection of honor band members is done through nomination by band directors and/or auditions. Students must be able to play with advanced proficiency on their instrument, demonstrate good conduct, and be an outstanding member of their school band. The following honor band program consists of the following groups: Westside Summer Honor Band, Eastside Summer Honor Bands I and II, Christmas Honor Band, and the Eastside Honor Jazz Band.

Honor Band News and Events:

Jazz-Rock Honor Band 2010

The Jazz-Rock Honor Band will rehearse on Saturday mornings in the band room at Lakeland Community
College in February, March, and April followed by culminating concert performances on the weekend of
April 24 & 25th which will held in the gym at St. Francis of Assisi School. The Jazz-Rock Honor Band is
a unique honor band, not only because of the type of music it will be performing (ranging from Swing to Pop to Rock), but also because of the opportunity for students to explore jazz improvisation ("improv") through music forms such as the Blues.

Furthermore, the group utilizes piano, electric keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, drumset, congas/bongos,
and sometimes even vocalists in addition to also including the traditional band instruments (such as flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, etc.).

Christmas Honor Band 2009 Recap

The MusicAlliance Christmas Honor Band consisting of 89 students
representing 26 schools presented their annual concert performance
for a capacity crowd in the Lakeland Community College
Performing Arts Center Auditorium on December 12th.

Summer Honor Band 2009 Recap

"East meets West - 5th Anniversary Celebration"

On Saturday June 27th, the MusicAlliance Eastside & Westside Summer Honor Bands celebrated
the 5th Anniversary of the MusicAlliance Honor Band programs by performing
their concerts together for the first time in one mega-concert showcase at the beautiful
Westlake Center for the Performing Arts (pictured above).

Before the concert performances began, there were many fun and exciting activities
for parents, families, and friends including a "Celebrity Memorabilia Auction", a "Chance Auction",
a "Silent Auction", a 50/50 Raffle, and a delicious Dessert Reception.

MusicAlliance is proud to offer the following honors programs:

Summer Honor Band (a week long program that rehearses in June each year - location varies)

Christmas Honor Band (Saturday morning rehearsals at Lakeland Community College - November & December)

Eastside Jazz-Rock Honor Band (Saturday morning rehearsals at Lakeland Community College - February, March, and April)

"I was really taken with the performance as well as that composition. It really does have so much of that intangible thing that defines a "Chicago" song. The kids sound great ... Please express my sincere appreciation to all of the performers."

- Tris Imboden (Drummer for the world-famous rock band "CHICAGO") - referring to the 2007 MusicAlliance Eastside Summer Honor Band I performance of an original composition written by honor band co-director Frank Adams entitled "Good Times - I Will Remember These" which was written to commemorate and honor the 40 year legacy of the band CHICAGO. The song marked the first time that the honor band program has featured a vocalist (a member of the flute section) with concert band accompaniment.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO "GOOD TIMES - I WILL REMEMBER THESE"
PERFORMED BY OUR 2007 EASTSIDE SUMMER HONOR BAND I.

"Over the past few years I've had the opportunity to work with and for the music educators of MusicAlliance. I served as guest conductor for their summer honors band and did an in-service music reading clinic with the music staff. They are a dedicated and talented group of music educators ... The things that impressed me about the honors band program include... the level of music performed ... and the quality of instruction ..."
- Len Orcino (Composer/Educator and Guest Conductor of the 2004 Summer Honor Band)