Illinois Band Directors:
About AIJB
The All-Illinois Junior Band was founded for the express purpose of creating a premier musical experience for the state’s finest middle school band students. As the first statewide middle school honor band in over half a century, membership in AIJB is determined solely through competitive blind auditions. Its goals are to provide an opportunity for middle school students to perform excellent literature with a mature ensemble and distinguished conductor, to interact with similarly dedicated student musicians from around the State of Illinois, and to encourage and inspire these outstanding young musicians to continue their musical studies.
Nationally Recognized Guest Conductor
The finest national recognized conductors and music educators working with students.
Amazing Facilities
Rehearsal and performance in the world class Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois.
Highly Selective
Blindly adjudicated auditions with high standards for acceptance. Membership determined solely by audition.
Quality Repertoire
High quality literature prepared by the students in advance of the festival.
Instrumentation
Appropriately sized ensemble with balanced instrumentation.
Great Value
Single participation fee covers costs associated with the AIJB Festival, including a t-shirt, Friday night reception, and lunch on Saturday. (Free concert admission, no director fee, and no school participation fee)
General Info
2020 Guest Conductor
Robert Tyrome Herrings, III is in his fifteenth year of teaching and has been teaching at Artie Henry Middle School in Leander ISD since 2004. Prior to coming to Leander ISD, he was the Director of Bands at Rockdale Junior High in Rockdale, Texas.
In 2003, Mr. Herrings received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole and Barry Hopper. While in college, Mr. Herrings was a member of the Baylor University performing wind bands, as well as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.
At Henry Middle School, Mr. Herrings conducts the Honors Band, and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginning clarinet, saxophone and trumpet. Mr. Herrings’ bands have consistently received UIL Sweepstakes ratings, as well as unanimous first division ratings, Best In Class, and Overall Outstanding Band honors at festivals around the state. From 2009-2018, the program at Henry earned distinction as a National Wind Band Honors Class AA winner, and in 2008 and 2013, the Henry Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The program was named the 2010, 2014 and 2018 TMEA Class CCC Honor Band and was also selected to perform at the 2010, 2012 and 2016 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In June 2011, Mr. Herrings and his program were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and in July of the same year, Mr. Herrings was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. In May of 2014, the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Director’s Association awarded the Outstanding Band Program Award to the Artie Henry MS Band Program, and in November of the same year, the Henry MS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Most recently, the Henry MS Band Program was selected as the 2018 Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award winner.
An active clinician and adjudicator around the state, Mr. Herrings is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Mr. Herrings also serves as the TMEA Region 32 Middle School Band Chair, as well as the Region 32 TBA representative. He is honored to be a member of Phi Beta Mu and a mentor to new-to-profession teachers at Henry Middle School.
Mr. Herrings enjoys motivating young musicians to achieve the highest level of performance by sharing his extreme love and passion for music with them on a daily basis. He feels honored, privileged and extremely blessed to have a loving mother and grandmother, many great mentors, band directors and close friends who have influenced his career thus far.
Above all, his students have been his greatest inspiration!
Sponsors
Interested in sponsoring the 2019 AIJB Festival and supporting our state’s finest young musicians? Contact us!
Testimonials
Thank you for your monumental efforts on behalf of these students in the All Illinois Junior Band. As a parent, I could not have asked for a better junior high band experience for my daughter. She returns from this weekend with new enthusiasm and a sense of pride from being a part of this group. The quality of the conductors and sectional staff give my child a level of instruction and musical experiences that are hard to match anywhere else in the state. I am forever grateful to both of you for your efforts to give all these band students a rewarding, educational, and inspiring band experience.
Parent of 2018 AIJB Member
Thanks so much for putting in all of the work to provide the AIJB experience for the students! I am completely impressed with how well everything was prepared and organized. It certainly was the best middle level honor band with which I have ever worked — a joyful experience for me the entire time!
Dougles Akey, 2017 AIJB Guest Conductor
My applicants practiced harder than I’ve ever seen them, listening back, reflecting, recording…regardless of whether they make it into the ensemble or not, it has already been a great learning process.
Karen Moffett, Westview Hills Middle School
My students had and excellent experience. I hope this is something that will become a tradition for many years to come.
Amanda Allen, Monticello Middle School
I truly appreciate the opportunity you’ve provided for our more motivated students. I look forward to being a part of it again in the future. My band parents were thrilled with the entire experience.
Tom Tedeschi, Lakeview Jr. High School
