The Kent State All-Star Band is an annual high school honor band opportunity hosted by the kent state band program

We are excited to host the 2020 Kent State All-Star Band! Held on January 10-11, this honor band opportunity brings over 180 high school students to campus for a fun and intense two days of music-making. Band directors nominate students using the form below, and students are selected to participate in either the eighty member Blue Band or the 100-piece Gold Band. 

Nomination Timeline and Process

• Late-September/October 2019: Nomination forms for the 2020 All-Star Band will be emailed to local band directors and is now available here.
• November 1: Nominations are due.
• November 15: Band directors will be notified of student acceptances by this date.
• December 2: Students will need to confirm their participation and submit their payment and paperwork by this date.

Fees

• $40 participant fee

Forms and Schedule

All nominations have been received! Check your email on Nov. 15 for your acceptance.

2020 Schedule

Emergency Medical Form

The KSU All-Star Choir Festival is a two-day choral leadership workshop.

The 2019 All-Star Choir Festival, Oct. 6-7

Many of Ohio's finest high school singers and directors will come together and enjoy two days of intensive choral rehearsals,  sectionals, panel discussions and performances. The festival is held both in beautiful downtown Kent at the KSU Hotel & Conference Center and at Kent State University music performance venues. There is no advanced preparation necessary—singers will receive music upon arrival! Private vocal coaching sessions with KSU voice faculty are available. Come be a part of this amazing choral/vocal experience at KSU!

Featured Choir

Northwest High School
Director: Doug Beery

ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the All-Star Choir Festival is open to high school students of sophomore, junior, or senior standing with proven excellence in choral experience. High School Choral Directors can nominate up to 10 students from their program based on vocal ability, character, and leadership potential. Acceptance will be based on available space—an acceptable balance between sections is preferred.

All directors are welcome to attend and encouraged to participate in festival events!

COSTS

• $45 registration fee per student (includes t-shirt, music packet with folder, transportation,  accompanist fees, and snacks).
• $5 per student for optional vocal coaching sessions (Juniors & Seniors only - see Nomination Form).
• $30 per student for optional overnight housing (price based on a 4-person room).
  • Participants who require overnight housing must include an additional $30 to cover room expense. This price is based on students being in a four-person room. Price may vary based on the number of students needing housing accommodations. Directors should contact the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center to book rooms under the ASCF block at 330-346-0100. A continental breakfast will be provided.

Send no fees now! Participants will be notified of acceptance. Fees must be paid in full before arrival in order to participate.

IMPORTANT: Each school must abide by their own district's policies on chaperoning for the overnight stay! Chaperones will be responsible for booking their own rooms. Kent State University and the All-Star Choir Festival do not accept responsibility for students staying overnight. All students staying at the KSU Hotel must have a Chaperone PRESENT at the time of check-in. Students without a responsible adult will not be allowed to check in. No exceptions.

Nomination Form instructions

1. Download and fill out the nomination form on Excel. Due Sept. 13!

• You may nominate a maximum of ten students.
• Carefully consider vocal ability, character, leadership potential, and sight-reading ability. Please do not nominate students with little or no sight-reading ability.
• Help us balance the All-Star Choir by nominating students from all voice types if possible.
• IMPORTANT: Please rank all nominees in order of overall ability. Please rank students carefully, as all nominees may not necessarily be selected to participate.
• Please inform nominees of the following and indicate interest on the nomination form:

Optional Vocal Coaching Session* (JUNIORS & SENIORS ONLY): Students must come prepared with an art song appropriate for solo and ensemble contest. If the piece is memorized, the student may be selected to perform on the final concert. *There is an additional $5 fee for the 15-minute vocal coaching sessions.

2. Registration information will be available in July/August.

download the nomination Form  

Schedule

Click here to view

*Attire for the final concert is your ASCF t-shirt and nice blue jeans. No holey jeans or leggings, please!

Rehearsal Breaks: "The Vocal Professional"
10-minute talks on vocal/choral careers by KSU faculty members

Contact

Primary
Mr. Jesse Reed
Kent State Choirs Graduate Assistant
P: 330-672-2271
Email: jreed63@kent.edu

Dr. Scott MacPherson
Director of Choral Activities
P: 330-672-2909
Email: smacpher@kent.edu 

Kent State Brass Day welcomes students from across Ohio for a day of intensive Brass ensemble rehearsals, clinics, and performance demonstrations.

Participants will work with School of Music brass faculty and guest artists the Monarch Brass Quintet. There will also be vendor displays with instruments, music and more.

Date: 

• Saturday | Nov. 23 | 2019

Artists:

Kent State Brass Faculty:
Michael Chunn and Jack Brndiar, trumpets
Kent Larmee, horn
David Mitchell, trombone/euphonium
Kenneth Heinlein, tuba

Click here for more information about the Kent Brass Quintet

Featured Guest Artist:
Monarch Brass Quintet

• SGM Ginger Turner and Sarah Grosse, trumpets
• Julia Rose, horn
• Jessica Sneeringer, trombone
• Jan Z. Duga, tuba

Click here to download their informational flyer

2019 Schedule:

8:30-9:30       Registration (Ludwig Recital Hall Lobby, Center for the Performing Arts)

9:30               Welcome & Opening Performance Kent Brass Quintet (Ludwig Recital Hall)

10:15              Individual Instrument Clinics/Warm-up with KSU Brass Faculty

11:00              Brass Ensemble Rehearsal (Ludwig Recital Hall)  

12:30-2:00      Lunch* & Visit Exhibitor’s Displays (E112)
                       Woodsy’s Music & Royalton Music Center

2:00                Monarch Brass Quintet Performance (Ludwig Recital Hall)

3:00                Individual Instrument Clinics with Monarch Brass Quintet (Ludwig Recital Hall)

4:00                Brass Ensemble Rehearsal (Ludwig Recital Hall)                   

5:00-6:30       Dinner* & Visit Exhibitor’s Displays (E112)

                                                Woodsy’s Music & Royalton Music Center

6:30                Final Brass Day Concert (Ludwig Recital Hall)

                                    Brass Ensemble Performance side by side with faculty

                                     Joint Performance of Monarch & Kent Brass Quintets

Open to the public – parents and all interested parties invited

Register:

Click here to register

An email to pay the $25 fee will be sent to you after you complete the registration form. 

For more information, contact:

Kent Larmee | Brass Division Coordinator, Horn | 330-672-6278, klarmee@kent.edu

Michael Chunn | Professor, Trumpet | 330-672-9234, mchunn@kent.edu

David Mitchell | Assistant Professor, Trombone/Euphonium | 330-672-5255, demitche@kent.edu

The Kent State University Clarinet Day will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019.

This day-long educational event is for clarinetists of all levels and will include workshops, clinics, master classes, performances, clarinet choir and vendors.

Clinicians

Eli Eban
Professor of Clarinet
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Learn more

Amitai Vardi
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of Music
Learn more

Participation in Clarinet Day includes:

• Welcome packet with clarinet swag
• Full access to all clinics and workshops
• Access to masterclasses and guest recital
• Full access to vendor exhibits
• Participation in the clarinet choir rehearsals and performance

Questions and more information?

Amitai Vardi
Kent State Professor of Clarinet
avardi@kent.edu

Registration

Click to register

Registration Deadline: Oct. 25

Fee Payment

$25 (all-inclusive)

Please click on this link and pay under "Academic Events --> Clarinet Day"

2019 schedule

MORNING

8:30 | Registration

9:00-9:30 | Welcome & Warm-up

9:30-10:15 | Clarinet Choir sectionals

10:15-10:45 | Break & visit the vendors

10:45-11:45 | Masterclass with Amitai Vardi 

11:45 | Lunch & visit the vendors

AFTERNOON

1:15-2:00 | Eli Eban recital

2:00-2:30 | Break & visit the vendors

2:30-4:30 | Masterclass and Q&A with guest artist Eli Eban

4:30-5:00 | Break and visit the vendors

5:00-5:45 | Clarinet Choir Dress Rehearsal

6:00 | Clarinet Choir Concert in Ludwig Recital Hall

Experience what it's like to be a member of Kent State's Flasher Brass on Sat., Feb. 22, 2020!

Spend the day as a member of the Flasher Brass! Join the Kent State University Flasher and Director Dr. Kate Ferguson on Sat., Feb. 22 to experience the excitement of KSU Men's Basketball. 

All students and band directors are invited to attend this event.

Registration

Click here to register

Registration Deadline: Feb. 14, 2020

Questions?

Email bands@kent.edu
Call 330-672-0080

Schedule

2:00 PM: Arrive and eat with the Flasher Brass
3:30 PM: Game tip-off

Full schedule and more information will be sent Feb. 18!

Bring your middle or high school band, choir, or orchestra to Kent State!

Spend a fabulous Friday at Kent State University! Fab Friday is a program of our Music Education Division and School of Music Ensembles which welcomes young ensembles from across Northeast Ohio for a morning of rehearsals, sectionals, and clinics.

We're currently accepting ensembles for the 2019-2020 academic year!

Sample Schedule

8:30 AM Arrive at the School of Music

9:00 AM Packing Your Toolbox: Ensemble warm-up/rehearsal led by visiting Director who also shares their best rehearsal strategies with current Kent State Music Education students. 

9:30 AM Sectional work with Kent State faculty and Music Education students

10:30 AM Kent State chamber music ensemble performance

10:45 AM Kent State Music Education students work with the visiting ensemble

11:15 AM Kent State faculty member works with the visiting ensemble

12:00 PM Departure

Mentorship

Not only is this a great experience for your students to work with our faculty and students, it's also an opportunity for the visiting Director to share their knowledge and insights as an educator with our currently enrolled Music Education students. In addition to "Packing Your Toolbox" session, there is also the opportunity available to meet with Kent State Music Education majors for a more in-depth conversation. 

Let us know you're interested!

Fill out the inquiry form here

Kent State will host a Horn Day on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

Kent State Associate Professor of Horn Kent Larmee hosts Alan DeMattia, Cleveland Orchestra member and Kent State alumnus, for a day of clinics, masterclasses and ensembles.

When and where

Saturday, April 18, 2020
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent Campus

Who can attend?

Open to ALL horn players. 

Kent State Faculty and Guest Artist

Kent Larmee
Associate Professor of Horn, Kent State
Read Bio

Alan DeMattia
Cleveland Orchestra Section Horn
Kent State University Alumnus
Read Bio

Tentative 2020 Schedule

Coming soon!

Registration

Register Here

Deadline: Friday, April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Registration Fee: $25 (page after registration)

The Kent state Jazz Invitational is a day-long event of workshops, rehearsals and clinics for Northeast Ohio high school Jazz students!

When?

Friday, March 13, 2020

The Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University invites you to participate in the Kent Wind Band Conductor’s Symposium.

Please note: The Symposium will be postponed until 2020. Please check back for updates for next year's event!

Featured Guest Conductor

TBA

Kent State Clinicians

TBA

Who can participate?

• Conductors of all levels are encouraged to participate in this transformative workshop!
• Participant Slots
  • Work directly with the clinicians
  • Limited number: first come, first served
  • Fee: $225
• Auditor slots
  • Observe all clinics
  • Free

Register

TBA

Symposium Payment

Repertoire/Schedule

Housing and Transportation 

Kent State's Nova Jazz Singers Vocal Jazz Invitational 

The Second Annual Invitational will be held April 13, 2020.

More details soon!

Experience Kent State's School of Music for yourself!

Discover what makes the Kent State School of Music unique with a day dedicated to prospective students!

Save the date for Tuesday, November 5, 2019!

High school students, transfer students, parents and teachers are encouraged to attend.

• Meet our faculty
• Attend classes
• Experience ensemble rehearsals
• Enjoy performances
• Interact with current students and more!

Schedule

2019 Open House Schedule with Optional Parent Track

How to join us

• Registration is now live!
• Due to demand, the deadline to register as been extended to Oct. 31.

Register for the day here!

Learn more about how to join us for the Kent State Saxophone Day

Registration is now open for the Sunday, November 24, 2019 event! 

who can attend?

• The event is open to all saxophonists, regardless of age or ability level.
• Classical and Jazz players 
• Music Educators are welcome to attend.

What you'll experience:

• Performances
• Masterclasses
• Saxophone Ensembles
• Select vendors and Woodsy’s Music will be selling instruments, reeds, and other equipment!

Who you'll work with:

Noa Even, Assistant Professor of Saxophone
Kent State University
Read more here. 

Bobby Selvaggio, Director of Jazz Studies
Kent State University 
Read more here. 

Featured Guest Artist: Kenneth Tse, Professor of Saxophone
University of Iowa
Read more here. 

Other Kent State Faculty Include:

• Chris Coles, Theron Brown, Aidan Plank, Dustin May.

Schedule

Morning

• 8:30 Check-in | Vendors open
• 9:00 Workshops TBA
• 10:00  Welcome and Clinic
• 11:00 Ensemble Rehearsal

Afternoon

• 12:30 Lunch | Vendors open
• 1:45 Faculty and Guest Artist Recital
• 3:00 Masterclasses
• 5:15 Ensemble Rehearsal
• 6:15 Closing Concert: Saxophone and Jazz Ensembles 

Registration

Click here!

• Fee: $25 plus option $8 for lunch
  • Pay online here
  • Click on "ACADEMIC EVENTS"
  • The registration fee is non-refundable unless the event is canceled by the University.
• Registration and Fee will be due NOVEMBER 4, 2019. 

Questions?

For questions or more information please contact Noa Even at neven@kent.edu.

Kent State will host its String Audition Clinic on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

When and where

Saturday, April 18, 2020
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent Campus

Who can attend?

Open to ALL high school string students interested in refining their audition skills.

Faculty

• Jung-Min Amy Lee, violin | The Cleveland Orchestra
• Cathy Meng Robinson, violin | Miami String Quartet
• Joanna Patterson Zakany, viola | The Cleveland Orchestra
• Keith Robinson, cello | Miami String Quartet
• Bryan Thomas, double bass | Educator and Performer
• Dr. Jungho Kim | Director of Orchestra

Tentative 2020 Schedule

• 9:30 am: Sign-in for participants
• 10:00 am: Greeting from Jungho
• 10:15 am: Session 1 – Scale Class Sectionals
• 11:05 am: Break/Transition to new rooms
• 11:15 am Session 2 – Masterclass
  • To be considered to perform, submit a video audition to Dr. Kim at jkim73@kent.edu.
• 12:05 pm: Break and snacks
• 12:30 pm: Session 3 – Sectionals on Excerpts
• 1:30 pm: Orchestral Sight-Reading with Jungho
• 2:00 pm: Closing remarks and dismissal1:55 pm: Closing remarks and dismissal

Registration

Register Here

Deadline: Friday, April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Free event

Materials

We'll be using the Regional Orchestra Audition excerpt and etude as a common base for all participants.

Questions?

Contact
Jungho Kim, Director of Orchestra
jkim73@kent.edu | 330-672-2172