(Fairfield, Iowa) – On Saturday, January 6, approximately 800 students from Southeast Iowa arrived at Fairfield High School in hopes of being accepted to attend the SEIBA Honor Band Festival. Each year, the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association sponsors the auditions in Fairfield. This year, there were 28 audition centers, with approximately 400 students auditioning for two junior high bands; over 300 students auditioning for the high school concert band; and about 50 students auditioning for the high school jazz band.

Delanee Van Zante of EBF Community School District was selected to participate in the SEIBA HS Honor band. High school students prepare two assigned etudes, chromatic and all major scales, and a solo excerpt of their choice. Competition is tough, as a small percentage of the students auditioning are accepted.

“All of the students from EBF that auditioned did an excellent job, demonstrated a commitment to music, and did an outstanding job of representing our school and communities,” said Joe Overton, EBF Band Director, in a news release.

The SEIBA Honor Band Concert will be held at Iowa City West High School on Saturday, January 27, 2018. The students will rehearse with guest conductors during the afternoon and give an evening concert. The junior high bands will present their concert at 5:00 PM followed by the high school bands at 6:00 PM.