Lee University Honor Band & Orchestra is an annual fall event for outstanding high school musicians. Students are selected from high schools across the United States based on their submitted materials and recommendations from band and orchestra directors.
We are excited to announce the addition of an Honor Orchestra for 2026, featuring violin, viola, cello, and double bass! Participants will have the opportunity to work with faculty and students from the Lee University School of Music and receive high-quality instruction throughout the event. The experience concludes with a public performance by the Honor Band & Orchestra.
Clinicians
- Dr. Josh Pace, Director of Bands and Wind Ensemble Director at Lee University
- Dr. Leonardo Rosario, Assistant Professor of Strings and Orchestra Director at Lee University
- Dr. Pam Klena, Assistant Professor of Music at Oakland University and Director of the Oakland University Symphonic Band
Event Details
- Dates: Thursday, November 12 – Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Registration: August 1 – October 15, 2026
- Cost: $60.00, which includes a pizza party, snacks, and an Honor Band & Orchestra T-shirt
For questions, please contact Honor Band & Orchestra Chairperson Dr. Amy Humberd at [email protected].
Chair Placement Auditions
Brass, woodwind, string, and percussion students will perform two selections:
- A prepared etude sent before the event.
- A brief sight-reading excerpt.
General Information
If you are selected as a member of the Lee University Honor Band & Orchestra, you will be our guest for only a few days. However, even as a guest, you will be a student on our campus. To help you feel comfortable, please review the following guidelines.
Dress
Casual pants, jeans, or shorts are appropriate for all Honor Band & Orchestra activities except for the Saturday afternoon concert. Tank tops are not permitted, and hats should not be worn during rehearsals.
Concert Dress
Members of the Honor Band & Orchestra may wear the concert dress used by their school.
- If preferred, female students may wear long black dresses with sleeves. Please remember that you will be seated on an elevated stage, so dress and skirt length should be considered.
- Male students may wear tuxedos with white shirts and black ties, or dark suits with white shirts and dark ties.
- Color guard and majorette uniforms are not appropriate.
Behavior
Your careful attention to the following is essential: possession or use of alcoholic beverages, drugs, or tobacco on or off campus is not permitted.
Things to Bring
Please bring your instrument, mutes (for trumpet, horn, and trombone), valve oil, reeds, and other necessary supplies. Percussionists should bring sticks and mallets.
Lee University School of Music Auditions
This is a great opportunity to audition for the Lee University School of Music!
If you are a high school senior considering a major in music, we encourage you to audition for the Lee University School of Music while you are on campus for Honor Band. If you are interested in an audition, please contact Honor Band & Orchestra Chairperson Dr. Amy Humberd at [email protected].