About Us - The Brief History of the New England Region Honors Band
The John Philip Sousa Foundation offers many dynamic programs to support the cause of wind band music around the country as a way to bring honor to that most famous and respected of bandsmen, John Philip Sousa. One of the Foundation’s most popular events is the John Philip Sousa National Honors Band, which is organized every two years. The band is open, by application, to all outstanding band students from throughout the United States. This program has been in existence for many years and has created outstanding opportunities for some of the most competent high school musicians in the country to come together and make music in the finest honors band setting. In 2001, the John Philip Sousa Foundation decided to create regional junior high school-level honors bands as a way to recognize the very special talents of junior high school-aged band students in grades 7, 8, and 9.
The very first regional John Philip Sousa Junior National Honors Band festival took place in South Carolina during October, 2001, involving students from Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It was a tremendous success…so much so that now the members of the Foundation have created similar regional junior festivals in other areas of the country.
This festival is the one organized for the New England Region. The festival is open to the most outstanding woodwind, brass, and percussion players from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. It began in 2002 as a middle school festival for students in grades 7, 8, and 9; and continued that way for the 2004 and 2006 festivals. Because of the overwhelming response, the festival was opened up to students in grading 7 through 12 starting in 2009 and has been serving both junior high and high school students ever since. Currently, two honors bands are created from the many applications received or submitted from all over New England.
The very first regional John Philip Sousa Junior National Honors Band festival took place in South Carolina during October, 2001, involving students from Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It was a tremendous success…so much so that now the members of the Foundation have created similar regional junior festivals in other areas of the country.
This festival is the one organized for the New England Region. The festival is open to the most outstanding woodwind, brass, and percussion players from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. It began in 2002 as a middle school festival for students in grades 7, 8, and 9; and continued that way for the 2004 and 2006 festivals. Because of the overwhelming response, the festival was opened up to students in grading 7 through 12 starting in 2009 and has been serving both junior high and high school students ever since. Currently, two honors bands are created from the many applications received or submitted from all over New England.
Our Mission & Objectives
1. To provide opportunities to perform in an honors band by junior high/middle school and high school students at their level of performance.
2. To create opportunities for junior high and high school musicians to further develop their musical and performance skills.
3. To provide opportunities for junior high and high school band directors and students to participate in special instrumental clinics and rehearsals.
4. To build support for school bands from parents, school administrators and communities,
5. To enhance self-esteem and confidence in the band student.
6. To motivate gifted band members by providing them with additional opportunities for the development of their special musical skills.
7. To provide bonding experiences with student musicians from other schools.
2. To create opportunities for junior high and high school musicians to further develop their musical and performance skills.
3. To provide opportunities for junior high and high school band directors and students to participate in special instrumental clinics and rehearsals.
4. To build support for school bands from parents, school administrators and communities,
5. To enhance self-esteem and confidence in the band student.
6. To motivate gifted band members by providing them with additional opportunities for the development of their special musical skills.
7. To provide bonding experiences with student musicians from other schools.