It’s that time of year when we start thinking about auditions for county, state, and regional honor bands. We have a lot of students who are very enthusiastic about honor bands, but many students either don’t know about honor band opportunities or are apprehensive about preparing for an audition. While honor band auditions are certainly optional (not graded), everyone in band should consider challenging themselves to complete an audition. You can also earn a Varsity Band letter by being accepted into an honor band (see the band handbook for details). While anyone can audition for honor bands (Symphonic Band members are accepted each year), I STRONGLY urge Wind Ensemble members (and percussionists who play with Wind Ensemble) and upperclassmen to prepare and submit at least one audition.
Honor bands are a fantastic way to challenge your own abilities, meet music students from outside of Hockinson, get introduced to world-renowned composers/conductors/professors, add items of distinction to job and college applications, earn points toward lettering in band, and are just a great way to have fun playing music!
One exciting development this year. The HHS Music Booster Club has always paid for all audition fees and then offered partial reimbursements for participation fees for honor bands. However, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the boosters (and all of you who helped), I’m excited to announce that ALL HONOR BAND AUDITION AND REGISTRATION FEES WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE BOOSTERS. If you are accepted for an honor band and participate, your registration fees will be reimbursed.
I would encourage ALL of you to take a look at the honor band information below and consider auditioning for one or more groups.
LCRMEA Honor Band
Audition Deadline: September 18, 2026 at 11:59pm
Registration Cost: $40 (reimbursed by the boosters)
Dates: Rehearsals 10/6, 10/8, 10/12 – 5-8pm, 10/13 9am-4pm, Concert 10/14 – 7pm
Location: Evergreen HS
Transportation: Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)
Audition Materials: https://39eefc39-ffcd-483f-8cc0-f5b74bc90d08.usrfiles.com/ugd/39eefc_6899b5a4c2eb479790fdbb5b4c5f542d.pdf (same as WIBC material)
More Information: https://www.lcrmea.org/band-1
Description: This honor band is open to students from Clark County. Students will be placed in 1 honor band and rehearse with a guest conductor. No overnight commitments since it is local. Students must be able to make it to all rehearsals to participate.
Western International Band Clinic Honor Bands
Audition Deadline: October 9 at 11:59pm
Participation Cost: $500 (participation fee and hotel)
Dates: Friday, November 20 – Monday, November 23, 2026
Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Seatac, WA
Transportation: Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)
Audition Material: https://bandworld.org/WIBC/View.aspx?p=WIBC_Audition (can also submit All-State Concert Band audition materials)
More Information: https://bandworld.org/WIBC/
Description: Students will be placed in one of four 175-person honor bands and rehearse with several conductors from Friday evening to Monday morning with a concert Monday afternoon. Guest artists also perform evening concerts throughout the weekend which students can attend. This is the most popular honor band I sent students to, and a GREAT honor band for those who have never done an honor band. Several students attend this honor band multiple years in a row.
Pacific Lutheran University NW High School Honor Band
Application Deadline: October 15, 2026
Registration Cost: $160 registration, plus approx. $150 for hotel (depends on # of HHS students accepted)
Dates: Thursday, January 7 – Saturday, January 9, 2027
Location: Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, WA
Transportation: Carpool with Mr. McEnry
Application: If you wish to be considered for this honor band, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/Nv3MJqdB99EX6SCm6
More Information: https://www.plu.edu/music/workshops/northwest-high-school-honor-band/
Description: Students are accepted based on their accomplishments and director’s recommendation. Hotel accommodations are arranged through me. If selected, students will perform a live audition on the first day of the event for chair placement in one of three 100-person concert bands. The concert is Saturday evening at PLU. One conductor per group, usually a renowned university conductor. I recommend applying for this honor band if you are a junior or senior, as preference usually seems to be given to upperclassmen.
North County Honor Band
Application Deadline: TBA (early October)
Registration Cost: Free to HHS Students
Dates: Friday, February 5 – Saturday, February 6, 2027
Location: Hockinson High School
Application Materials: Watch for an application in the coming weeks
Description: A local honor band made up of students from high schools in the Hockinson, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, La Center, Woodland, Camas, and Washougal school districts. Students are selected based on an application detailing their musical accomplishments and director’s recommendation. Rehearsals happen Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday afternoon with a concert at HHS Saturday evening. One conductor per group, usually a university conductor from a major Oregon or Washington university. I HIGHLY recommend everyone apply for this honor band. In past years, the honor band has been made up of more Hockinson students than any other school. Most years it’s more than 30 HHS students!
WMEA All-State Jazz Band
Audition Deadline: November 13, 2026
Registration Cost: $350 (participation fee, food) HOTEL NOT INCLUDED
SCHOLARSHIP: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yw7Kg7xzAqYvJHWya4MagvlAf3831OHD?usp=drive_link
Dates: Wednesday, May 19 – Thursday, May 20, 2027
Location: Tacoma
Transportation: Carpool with other students or arrange own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)
Audition Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1J_JTZ42NvHnH2_paAOAFWZ7kgven1gzj?usp=drive_link
More Information: https://wmea.org/2026-all-state-honor-group-information-center/
Description: This honor band is open to students from all Washington public schools. Students will be placed in one jazz band of about 20 musicians. Rehearsals start Wednesday afternoon and continue into Thursday with a concert Thursday night. The audition is not to be taken lightly. It is highly competitive.
WMEA All-State Concert Band
Audition Deadline: November 13, 2026
Registration Cost: $350 (participation fee, food) HOTEL NOT INCLUDED
SCHOLARSHIP: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yw7Kg7xzAqYvJHWya4MagvlAf3831OHD?usp=drive_link
Dates: Thursday, May 20 – Saturday, May 22, 2027
Location: Tacoma
Transportation: Carpool with other students or arrange your own transportation (school/boosters do not provide transportation)
Audition Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14G5Fh8ennpDN4bjza9YJZecq0s8AwpR9?usp=drive_link
More Information: https://wmea.org/2026-all-state-honor-group-information-center/
Description: This honor band is open to students from all Washington public schools. Students will be placed in one of several concert bands, or even in one of the orchestras. Rehearsals start Thursday afternoon and continue Friday and Saturday with a concert Saturday afternoon.
