Kent State All-Star Band

An annual high school honor band opportunity hosted by the Kent State Band program


January 9-11, 2025

Email AllStarBand@Kent.edu with any questions.  

 


Nomination Timeline and Process

The deadline to nominate your students is November 8 by 5 p.m., no late nominations will be accepted. All students accepted and their band directors will be notified by November 22, and students will need to confirm their participation by December 6

Nomination Form

All-Star Band Nomination Form

Fees

  • $65 per participant

Submit Your Payment

Guest Clinicians

Michael Markowski is fully qualified to watch movies and cartoons. Although he graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in ‘Film Practices,’ his thirst for writing music has always been the more persistent itch. His concert music has been performed around the world, from the Musikverein in Vienna to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and has been recorded by vocalist Timothy Stoddard (“Tarot”) as well as the Brooklyn Wind Symphony. As a film composer, his music can be heard in Nathan Blackwell’s “The Last Movie Ever Made” (Amazon Prime, Apple TV). At Carnegie Hall, his orchestrations for the New York Pops have featured the vocal talents of Hailey Kilgore, Derek Klena, Javier Muñoz, Ali Stroker and Valisia LeKae. Markowski is a member of ASCAP, the Recording Academy, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.


Schedule

Thursday, January 9, 2025

5:00 p.m. Check-in 
Gold and Blue Bands check-in

5:30 p.m. Welcome

6:30- 8:00 p.m. Rehearsal 
Rehearsal: Gold All-Star Band 
Rehearsal: Blue All-Star Band

8:00 p.m. Check-out 
Location for Gold All-Star Band
Location for Blue All-Star Band

Friday, January 10, 2025

7:30 a.m. Check-in
 Blue Band checks in 
Gold Band checks in

8:00 - 10-30 a.m.Rehearsal 
Rehearsal: Blue All-Star Band
Rehearsal: Gold Band checks
*Travel to Masterclass locations 

11:00 a.m. Director PD Session (Q and A with Guest Composer)

11:00 a.m. Faculty Masterclasses 

12:00- 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30- 2:30 p.m Sectionals

3:00 p.m. Faculty Recital

4:00- 5:30 p.m Dinner

5:30- 8:00 p.m Rehearsal
Rehearsal: Gold All-Star Band 
Rehearsal: Blue All-Star Band

8:00 p.m. Check-out 
Location for Gold All-Star Band: TBA
Location for Blue All-Star Band: TBA

Saturday, January 11, 2025

12:00 p.m. Gold Band Sound-check
(Cartwright Hall, 650 Hilltop Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242) *Students arrive in concert dress

1:00 p.m. Blue Band Sound-check
(Cartwright Hall, 650 Hilltop Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242) *Students arrive in concert dress

2:00 p.m. ALL-STAR BAND CONCERT (University Auditorium, Cartwright Hall)
Order Blue Band, then Gold Band 

Housing and Overnight Accommodations

  • Kent State University All-Star Band will NOT provide housing or chaperones for the weekend festival.
  • Participants, parents, and/or directors are responsible for making housing and chaperone arrangements.
  • You can find information about area accommodations through the City of Kent Business Directory.

Band and Part Assignments

Students will be responsible for printing and bringing their own music to the rehearsals this year.
Band and part assignments will be available here:

TBA

Band Assignments are done, and part assignments will be emailed soon.

REGISTRATION

Registration will take place at Ludwig Recital Hall: (1325 Theatre Dr, Kent, OH 44243) (DirectionsMap)

PARKING

Please visit the parking map on KSU for parking information.

KSU Parking Map

MEALS

Students will be provided meals for Friday. Meals for Thursday and Saturday before the concert will be on your own. 

EQUIPMENT FOR REHEARSALS

You will be responsible for bringing the following equipment to your instrument: a pencil, reeds, valve oil, mutes, horn string, etc. Percussion instruments will be provided, but percussion students must provide sticks and mallets. Brass players must bring mutes to all rehearsals.

CONCERT INFORMATION

Admission to the Saturday All-Star Band Concert in the University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall is free and we encourage directors, friends and family members to attend. Free parking is available in lots immediately adjacent to the auditorium.

CONCERT ATTIRE

Concert attire is your school’s concert band attire or concert black.

FORMS

If the participant is under 18 years old, please fill out the following forms:
Under 18 Forms
If the participant is over 18 years old, please out the following forms:
Over 18 Forms