EBF Students Audition for SEIBA Honor Band
On Saturday, January 5, 2013, approximately 800 students from Southeast Iowa arrived at Fairfield High School in hopes of being accepted to attend the SEIBA Honor Band Festival. Each year, the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association sponsors the auditions in Fairfield. This year, there were 28 audition centers, with approximately 400 students auditioning for two junior high bands; over 300 students auditioning for the high school concert band; and about 80 students auditioning for the high school jazz band.
Congratulations to the students accepted from Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont High School: Jessica Jones; 1st chair flute, Anna Haselhuhn; trumpet, Riley Arnold; alto saxophone, and Emma Haselhuhn; tenor sax.
Students in junior high are expected to prepare chromatic and nine major scales, and two assigned etudes. High school students prepare two assigned etudes, chromatic and all major scales, and a solo excerpt of their choice. Competition is tough, as only about half of the students auditioning are accepted.
The SEIBA festival was held at Iowa City West High School on Saturday, January 19th. The students rehearsed with guest conductors during the afternoon, and give an evening concert. The junior high bands were conducted by Mrs. Kim Benson, junior high band director in Pella; and David Lang, high school band director in Independence. Guest conductors for the other bands included: jazz band – Tony Guzman of Luther College; and high school concert band – Travis Cross, Iowa native, who is a conductor and teacher at Virginia Tech University. At the concert, the high school band premiered a composition written for them by Mr. Cross.