Thank you for attending this year’s Band Festival!
Check back soon for more details on the 2026 festival!
PLU Invitational Band Festival
Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, 2026
Mary Baker Russell Music Center | Ron Gerhardstein, Director
The Invitational Band Festival takes place in the beautiful Lagerquist Concert Hall of the Mary Baker Russell Music Center. The festival formally invites up to twenty four bands, eighteen high schools and six junior high/middle school bands.
Dates to keep in mind:
- Application window: September 15, 2025 at 8am
- Notifications: by TBA
- Registration window: TBA
This event may fill quickly. Please apply early!
Performance Details
- Performance/clinic: Each school band will perform 15-20 minutes along with a 15-20 minute onstage clinic. Groups will receive a recording of their performance along with recorded feedback from clinicians.
- Midday Concert: The PLU Wind Ensemble will perform a short concert each day at 11:45 am
- Entry fee: $275 – Registration and Payment Deadline: TBA
Please note that no refunds will be allowed after event registration has been completed, and no registration or payment will be accepted following the deadline of TBA.
Tentative Schedule:
Friday, March 7, 2025
- 8-11:45am – Round 1 (5 Bands)
- 11:45am – PLU Wind Ensemble performance for Rounds 1 and 2
- 12:15pm – Lunch
- 1:15-5pm – Round 2 (6 Bands)
Saturday, March 8, 2025
- 8-11:45am – Round 3 (5 Bands)
- 11:45am – PLU Wind Ensemble performance for Rounds 3 and 4
- 12:15pm – Lunch
- 1:15-5pm – Round 4 (6 Bands)
Festival Clinicians:
Ron Gerhardstein has enjoyed a long career as a music educator and band director in public school and collegiate settings and he is currently the Interim Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Education at Pacific Lutheran University. At PLU, he currently directs the Wind Ensemble and the University Concert Band and he teaches coursework in the music education curriculum, including: Band Repertoire and Rehearsal, Woodwind Labs I/II, Percussion Lab, Music and Culture, PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU, and he assists with the supervision of student teachers.
Dr. Gerhardstein earned a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University where he studied with Edwin Gordon and Beth Bolton. He also attended the University of Idaho, earning a Bachelor’s degree in music education, and a Masters of Music (Saxophone Performance) studying with Robert Miller.
Dr. Gerhardstein is a frequent workshop clinician, guest conductor, and festival adjudicator. Prior to coming to PLU in 2014, he was the band director at West Valley High School in Yakima where his band program had a strong reputation for excellence in all areas (Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band). He has proudly served as an honor band conductor on several occasions, most notably the 2019 APAC Honor Band in Kobe, Japan, and the 2017 WMEA Junior All-State “Rainier” Band.
A passionate advocate for music education, Ron is an active member of WMEA, currently serving a two-year term as WMEA President. In addition, he serves on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) as the honorary board member for the Fine Arts. Dr. Gerhardstein makes his home in Tacoma with his wife, Jerilyn, an elementary teacher librarian in the Bethel School District.
For Questions:
Ron Gerhardstein, Associate Professor of Music; Director of Band Studies
School of Music, Theatre & Dance; Pacific Lutheran University
(253) 535-7609 e-mail: gerharrc@plu.edu
Abby Deskins, Coordinator of Educational Outreach Programs
College of Professional Studies; Pacific Lutheran University
(253) 535-7877 e-mail: adeskins@plu.edu
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