WESTERN/OBA Intermediate honour band

October 17th and 18th, 2025

Western University

Registration Deadline: Sept 19th, 2025

Please note that there are a limited number of spots available for each instrument. Placement will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are a teacher looking to recommend students, please email the event director, Matt Rodnick, at mattrodnick@gmail.com to receive a registration link you can share with your students.

ABOUT

The Ontario Band Association in partnership with Western University, is once again thrilled to present the annual Intermediate Honour Band for students in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11 from across the province. The 2025 honour band will take place at the Don Wright Faculty of Music on Western’s campus in London ON on October 18th and 19th and will be conducted by Dr. Colleen Richardson. This two-day event is a phenomenal opportunity for musical enrichment and provides memories that will last a lifetime!

In this event, students will join one of two ensembles. One band is exclusively for grade eight and nine students while the second band is a combined grade ten and eleven band.

Acceptance into the ensemble is through teacher recommendation, not audition. Please see the playing requirements below for more information.

Music will be sent out to the participants in advance of the Intermediate Honour Band weekend. The overall event price is $78 and includes a t-shirt, lunch on both days as well as music.

SCHEDULE

Our event runs over two days in October. 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday, October 17th and from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Saturday, October 18th.

There will be a concert for friends and family on Saturday, October 18th at 3:00 PM in Paul Davenport Theatre.

Grade 8/9 Band Playing Requirements

Prospective Grade Eight AND Nine Musicians should meet the following playing criteria to ensure that they will be successful in the ensemble:

Students should have the necessary range to perform a one-octave concert B-Flat Major Scale on their instrument.
The ability to play in the keys of E-Flat, F, and B-Flat Major Concert.
Please look at the scores below to determine suitability.

Scores

Please see the links below to the scores of the pieces that will be performed. We ask that music teachers look through the scores with their students in mind prior to making a recommendation.

Chris Bernotas - El Toro - Click HERE to access the score.
Larry Daehn - Country Wildflowers - Click HERE to access the score.
Brian Balmages - Shadows Unleashed - Click HERE to access the score

Students are expected to learn all notes and rhythms at tempo in advance of the 2-day event so that rehearsals can focus on music making.

Within one week of registering, students will receive all the parts for their instrument so they are able to practice over the summer. Exact individual part assignments will be available on September 30th once the full registration period has ended.

For example, if a student was a clarinet player, they would receive all the clarinet parts so they could practice well in advance of the event. On September 20th, they would find out the specific part assignment (e.g., Clarinet 2) that they would be playing for the event.

highlights

Rehearse at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music in their new building!
Learn from some of Ontario’s most distinguished music specialists.
Enjoy a free concert by Western University students.
Receive a T-shirt to commemorate the event.
Meet new friends from all over the province.
Make some great music and create some great memories!
Perform for family and friends in the Paul Davenport Theatre on the Western Campus.

Grade 10/11 Band Playing Requirements

Prospective Grade Ten AND Eleven Musicians must meet the following playing criteria to ensure that they will be successful in the ensemble:

The ability to perform music at the B400 Level
The pieces we will study employ chromaticism; students should be able to perform a chromatic scale on their instrument starting on any note.
Students should have knowledge of ALL metres, rhythms, and keys required by the three pieces to be performed.
Please look at the scores below to determine suitability.

Scores

We have provided links to the scores of the pieces that will be performed. We ask that music teachers look through the scores with their students in mind prior to making a recommendation.

Travis Weller - Moravian Dance - Click HERE to access the score.
Randall Standridge - Winds of Change - Click HERE to access the score.
John Mackey - Undertow - Click HERE to access the Score

Students are expected to learn all notes and rhythms at tempo in advance of the 2-day event so that rehearsals can focus on music making.

Within one week of registering, students will receive all the parts for their instrument so they are able to practice over the summer. Exact individual part assignments will be available on September 30th once the full registration period has ended.

For example, if a student was a clarinet player, they would receive all the clarinet parts so they could practice well in advance of the event. On September 20th, they would find out the specific part assignment (e.g., Clarinet 2) that they would be playing for the event.

Recommend Your Students Now

Recommending a student is easy and takes just a few minutes!

Here is how it works:

1. Music teachers should email Matt Rodnick at mattrodnick@gmail.com to request the registration link.

2. Teachers will receive a personalized registration link to share with their students.

3. Once the student registers, the teacher should receive a notification to their email. That email will include a link to a musician reference form that the teacher should fill out to help us make part assignment decisions.

Please note that recommendations must be made by a music teacher. All students must be able to meet the minimum playing requirements stated above. Recommendations are based on your professional judgement as a music teacher.

Please note that there are a limited number of spots available on each instrument. First come, first served.