We are thrilled your child is considering auditioning for the All-Illinois Junior Band! Our goal is to provide a fantastic weekend of music-making that your child will remember for a lifetime. The weekend offers selected students the opportunity to play with similarly talented peers under expert leadership in a world-class concert hall.
We hope to anticipate and answer many of your initial questions in this document, but please feel free to contact your child’s school band director or contact us to answer more specific questions.
Membership
To be eligible to audition for AIJB, the participating school must be a member of either IGSMA North or IGSMA South. In addition, students must reside in the State of Illinois, be a 7th or 8th grader in good standing in their Illinois school band program, and be nominated and registered by their school band director.
Festival Information
Friday (Harding Band Building, 1103 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820)
12:30 PM – Director and Student Check-in
1:00 PM – Rehearsal
2:30 PM – Sectionals/Sousa Museum Tour Rotation
4:00 PM – Dinner Break (not provided)
6:00 PM – Rehearsal
8:00 PM – Rehearsal Ends
Saturday (Krannert Center for the Performing Arts)
8:30 AM – Student Arrival
9:00 AM – Rehearsal
10:45 AM – Break
11:00 AM – Rehearsal
12:00 PM – Lunch Break (provided)
1:00 PM – Rehearsal
2:15 PM– Break, Students change, etc…
3:00 PM – AIJB Concert
Accepted students are required to attend all rehearsals and performance. Students who are unable to commit to the entire duration of the AIJB Festival should not audition.
Audition Results and Participation Fee
Audition requirements are posted on the AIJB website. Recorded auditions will be submitted by your child’s band director and blindly evaluated by independent adjudicators. Each application will be carefully considered. Selection to the AIJB Festival and chair assignment are based solely on the audition score.
In late November audition results will be distributed to directors via email and directors will be asked to confer with you and your child to make sure they can fully participate during the festival weekend. Each director will then confirm your child’s acceptance of selection in the band with AIJB and submit the $60.00 participation fee. The participation fee covers operational costs, a t-shirt, Friday night reception and lunch on Saturday. Confirmation of the selected students and their participation fee is due by December 1. Once confirmed, payment will be expected and no refunds will be issued. If you decline your child’s selection to the band a student on the alternate list will be offered the spot.
Music
Music parts will be delivered via regular mail during December. All students are expected to thoroughly prepare the music prior to arrival on campus for the festival weekend. All music is the property of AIJB and will be returned following the performance.
Student Supervision
It is required that each student have a designated, responsible adult (preferably a parent or adult relative) throughout the festival weekend when students are not involved in AIJB rehearsals, events, or concerts. In the absence of a parent or relative, the child’s band director may serve as the responsible adult if agreed upon by the family, director, and school. The responsible adult must be reachable and accessible during the duration of the festival, and adults are welcome to observe rehearsals and attend special programming throughout the festival weekend.
Transportation, Hotel Accommodations and Meals
Transportation to and from the University of Illinois, local transportation, meals (excluding Saturday lunch), and hotel accommodations are the financial responsibility of the participating student’s family and/or director and school. An anticipated schedule of events is listed in this document, and a final schedule of events including rehearsal times and places will be furnished prior to the festival weekend. It is each students’ responsibility to assure they arrive at all events in a timely manner.
If necessary, it is recommended that hotel reservations be made as soon as students receive their acceptance.
AIJB 2025 Guest Conductor
Linda Moorhouse, University of Illinois
Questions and Additional Information
Please consult your child’s school band director or contact info@aijb.org