West Virginia University will host its 32nd Annual Invitational High School Honor Bands event during the weekend of Feb. 10-12 at the Creative Arts Center.

Approximately 350 student musicians, representing more than 100 high schools in West Virginia and several surrounding states, will participate. They are recommended by their high school band directors and selected on the basis of their ability and accomplishments.

The students will audition Thursday evening and rehearse for two days before presenting the annual Honor Bands Concert, at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Honor Bands event is hosted by WVU Director of Bands John Hendricks and Associate Director Jay Drury. Many of the high school band directors also accompany their students to the event, which serves as a workshop and observation opportunity for area music teachers.

“Much of the success of our Honor Bands is due to the outstanding guest conductors who bring their talents to Morgantown each year,” Hendricks said. “We are pleased to announce that our conductors this year will be David Gillingham, renowned composer and professor of composition at Central Michigan University, Corey Spurlin, associate director of bands at Auburn University, and J.P. Lynch, Jr., director of bands at Jefferson High School in West Virginia.”

As part of the Honor Band Weekend activities, the WVU Wind Symphony will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. This concert, a ticketed event, will also feature the guest conductors for the WVU Invitational Honor Bands event.

For more information about the WVU Invitational High School Honor Bands Concert or the Friday evening WVU Wind Symphony Concert, contact the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.