Bob Cole Honors Festival at CSULB

The fourth Bob Cole Conservatory Honors Festival is coming up soon! This festival will bring together the most talented student musicians from across Southern California to perform in a Wind Symphony, a Concert Choir, and String Chamber Ensemble.

The Bob Cole Honors Festival is unique: students will have the opportunity to work closely with renowned conductors, guest artists, and Honors Festival faculty.

This year’s guest artists are Michele Zukovsky, Principle Clarinet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Dennis Kim, Concertmaster with the Pacific Symphony.

Guest artists will present master classes for each ensemble, and Honors Festival faculty will offer sectionals and group instruction to all students. This festival, unlike other honor bands, orchestras, or choirs, includes learning opportunities for every participant, well beyond the invaluable experience of intensive rehearsals and a public performance with other outstanding musicians. To see pictures from last year’s festival go to:  The Bob Cole Conservatory Honors Festival Facebook Page

Due to a generous grant from California State University, Long Beach the regular festival participation rate of $160.00 has been reduced to $45.00, which will be collected after acceptance to the festival. We also have a limited number of need-based scholarships for those wishing to attend but not able to afford the $45.00 participation rate.

Before you submit auditions please make sure you will be able to attend the Festival (Jan 4-6), and do NOT have another event/situation that will prevent you from coming, in the event you are invited. Also, please be aware that participants must attend ALL rehearsals during the Festival in order to be accepted and perform in the concert on January 6, 2019.

All audition information and applications are found at: http://web.csulb.edu/depts/music/prospective-students/honors-festival.php

Wind players are to prepare and submit two brief contrasting etudes or solo excerpts of their own choosing, and the appropriate scales found on the Audition Recording Procedures sheet.

Percussionists may audition on any one, two or all three of the following instruments: Snare Drum, Mallets, and Timpani. If a percussionist chooses to audition on one instrument only, he/she must prepare and submit two contrasting etudes or solo excerpts on that particular instrument. If a percussionist chooses to audition on two or three instruments, he/she need only prepare and submit one etude or solo excerpt on each instrument. Although not required, all percussionists are encouraged to audition on multiple instruments. Rudiments for battery percussion auditions are NOT necessary for the Bob Cole Honors Festival audition procedure. However, scales are included in the mallet auditions.

Harp and Piano: If you would like to audition on one of these instruments, please submit an audition, and then we will let you know if those instruments are needed.

String applicants should prepare a two octave scale of their choosing and select and perform two contrasting excerpts:  String Chamber Ensemble Audition Recording Guidelines

Vocalists should prepare and perform a single Italian Art Song, Aria or American Folk Song:  Concert Choir Audition Recording Guidelines

Complete instructions for the recording procedure and audition requirements are found here:  http://web.csulb.edu/depts/music/prospective-students/honors-festival.php

Jermie Arnold D.M.A.
Director of Woodwind Studies
Bob Cole Honors Festival Coordinator
Associate Director of Bands
Assistant Professor of Music
California State University, Long Beach