The 2021 Northwest High School Honor Band has been postponed to January 7-8, 2022. While we regret not having the opportunity to host the event this year, we look forward to returning in 2022 and hope to see you all there.
Please check back for updates on next year’s event. Thank you for your continued support and interest!
Northwest High School Honor Band
January 8-9, 2021
Pacific Lutheran University
253-535-7602
The Northwest High School Honor Bands will feature music performed by approximately 250 of the finest high school musicians from Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These outstanding high school students are recommended for participation in the event by their high school band directors and the concert is a culmination of two days of intense rehearsals with guest clinicians.
Honor Band is hosted by Pacific Lutheran University under the direction of Dr. Ed Powell and Dr. Ron Gerhardstein.
Dr. Emily Threinen
Emily Threinen currently serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota School of Music in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. In this position, she conducts the acclaimed Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind band conducting program, assists undergraduate advanced conducting courses, and provides administrative leadership for all aspects of the University of Minnesota Bands. Prior to her appointment at Minnesota, Threinen served as Director of Bands, Associate Professor of Music, and Artistic Director of Winds and Brass at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Before her work in Philadelphia, Threinen served as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia; Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony in Durham, North Carolina; Director of the Concordia University Wind Ensemble in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Conductor of the Dodworth Saxhorn Band in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Harding High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, receiving the Outstanding Teacher Award.
Threinen consistently works with composers, arrangers, and performing artists of varied disciplines. Residencies and projects with composers and new compositions are integral to her creative work. Threinen is published in multiple volumes of the GIA Teaching Music Through Performance in Band book series where she has been recognized as a strong scholarly contributor. She is an active guest conductor, clinician, conference presenter, and performer.
Threinen is a Yamaha Master Educator and was elected to the American Bandmasters Association in 2016. She is an active member of these organizations: World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles (WASBE), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Pi Kappa Lambda, and Kappa Kappa Psi as an honorary member.
Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin
Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is the Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina. There, she assists with the Carolina Band, directs the women’s basketball band, and conducts the University Band. Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin also teaches courses in the music education department and oversees student teachers. Prior to her appointment at USC, she served as interim Director of Athletic Bands at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA, and spent four years as band director at Chamblee Charter High School in Chamblee, GA.
Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin is a frequent adjudicator, clinician, and speaker. As a proponent of new music, she led the consortium and premiere of Aaron Perrine’s Beneath a Canvas of with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble to complete her doctoral studies. Her research on Joan Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman is published in the Alta Musica journal; she also presented this research at the International Society for the Promotion of Wind Band in Oberwölz, Austria. Additionally, Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin serves as New Music Editor for the Women Band Director’s International Journal. As a champion for women in music, she was honored to speak in the 2018 Tau Beta Sigma Women in Music series.
Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin received her Bachelor of Music Education degree with a minor in wind conducting from Indiana University where she was also drum major of the Marching Hundred. She holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting degree from the University of Kansas. Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma.
High school directors, please use the link provided below to create or login with an OpusEvent account to nominate and recommend students that you would like to participate in the Northwest High School Honor Band. The nomination deadline is TBD. We ask that before nominating a student, please check with each student concerning their availability. There is a participant fee of $110 for each student participating in the Honor Band.
Link to the Honor Band information letter, schedule.
Nominations for January 2021 will open TBD:
OpusEvent Honor Band Nominations
Honor Band Registration will be made available following the designated nomination period.
Once nominations have been reviewed Honor Band participants will be notified of acceptance via email and provided access to registration. Once received, please complete registration and payment using the OpusEvent link provided by TBD.
- Participant fees: $110 (non-refundable) / Deadline: TBD.
- Concert CD: $20
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 TBD.
Audition Materials for Chair Placement
After participant’s check in on January 8th, chair placement auditions will be held in various rooms in the Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Please open and print the PDF version of your part for your instrument and practice prior to the January 8th check in.
Flute, Oboes, Clarinet (B-Flat), Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet (Contra Bass), Bassoon, Sax (Alto), Sax (Bari), Sax (Tenor), Trumpet/Cornet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium TC, Euphonium BC, Tuba, Mallets, Snare Drum, Timpani, Double Bass
JANUARY 9, 2021
5:00pm performance
Northwest High School
Concert Band
and
6:30pm performance
Northwest High School
Symphonic Band
The concerts are held in Lagerquist Concert Hall in the Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Free Admission / No Tickets.
General information regarding your time at PLU for Honor Band
ATTIRE: For the performances, students should plan on wearing standard concert attire that they would normally wear for school performances. Aside from the concerts, casual dress is appropriate.
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