The Indiana Bandmasters Association (IBA) sponsors All-District, All-Region, and All-State and All-State Honor Band opportunities for high school and middle school concert band students. North students are encouraged to try out for the All-District and All-State Bands.
www.indianabandmasters.org

IBA All-District Bands are for students in grades 9-12. Selection is based on recommendations from teachers. Each school is guaranteed to have at least one student chosen. Applications are submitted in September and the rehearsal/concert weekend is in November.

The prestigious IBA All-State Band and All-State Honor Band are composed of exceptional high school students. The very best are selected for the Honor Band. Auditions occur in January at various sites throughout the state, including North, with each student playing prescribed excerpts chosen to discriminate between the best players.

The All-State Jazz Band and the All-State Jazz Combo are sponsored by the Indiana Music Educators Association and the Indiana Jazz Educators Association. Auditions take place at various locations around the state in late Oct/early Nov. Those chosen for the two groups spend a weekend in January in Fort Wayne for rehearsals and a concert in conjunction with the IMEA Convention.
www.indianajazz.org

Students are welcome and encouraged to join the Cougar Marching Band, the Winter Percussion Ensemble, and/or the Basketball Pep Band. Other opportunities include the pit band for the Spring Musical.

Some of the festivals North frequently attends include the following.

The Bloomington Jazz Fest is a two-day affair held at BHSN every other year, alternating with BHSS. Bands and combos from all over the state (and beyond) attend. Each performance is rated by a panel of professional jazz musicians and a private critique/clinic is offered afterward. Outstanding soloists are awarded certificates and trophies. All performances are free and open to the public.

At the Purdue Jazz Festival, guest artists, adjudicators, and clinicians share their knowledge via concerts, jazz jams, competitions, and workshops (clinics) with thousands of students from all over the Midwest.

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The Ball State Jazz Festival, like the Purdue Jazz Fest, has competitions, clinics, critiques, awards, and a concert in the evening featuring a guest artist and 1 or 2 of the top high school bands.  Awards include 1st, 2nd, 3rd in each of the three Big Band rooms, 1st & 2nd in the Combo room, best soloist on each instrument in the Big Band rooms, plus overall best soloist in each room, and scholarships for summer music camps  in the Combo room.

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The IU Summer Music Clinic (June) is an OUTSTANDING symphonic band opportunity with a jazz contingent. Students live in university housing with final concerts presented in the Musical Arts Center. There are limited openings in several of the wind and percussion sections, so students should apply early in the spring!!

www.music.indiana.edu/summer/music-clinic

Solo & Ensemble is a chance for students to perform as soloists and/or in small groups before judges who give personal feedback, as well as gold, silver, and bronze ratings. Students choose music from different categories based on difficulty. Those performing music with the highest difficulty rating (Group I) have the option of going on to the State Solo & Ensemble contest, if they receive a gold rating at the District level.

The District contest is normally held at BHSN in January or February with the help of many band students and parent volunteers. Winds, percussion, and strings play on one day, while vocal and piano performances occur a week earlier or later. All band students are encouraged to participate by playing a solo and/or an ensemble piece.

The State contest is held in late February or early March in Indianapolis. Note that an application form and payment for the state contest must be submitted AT the district contest!