Senior High Honor Band

Dr. Alan W. Mills serves as Conductor of Wind Bands and Coordinator at Loyola University New Orleans, where he oversees the Winds, Brass, and Percussion programs and teaches conducting and music education.

Previously, Dr. Mills served as Director of Bands at Colorado State University Pueblo, founding the ThunderWolves Marching Band, the Festival of Winds, and the Rocky Mountain Commissioning Project. His additional experience includes teaching at East Texas A&M University and serving as a public school music educator.

An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Mills has worked with military ensembles and professional and university bands throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His international engagements include the Czech National Concert Band, Singapore Philharmonic Winds, and Beijing Wind Orchestra. In 2025, he was named Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music at Sias University in China.

Dr. Mills has presented at state and national music conferences, published in the Journal of Band Research and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, and serves in leadership roles with the College Band Directors National Association and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

Senior High Honor Band Audition Registration - Coming Soon!

Audition Registration

Eligibility:

9th-12th grade
- 9th graders must choose between Junior High and Senior High (only one audition will be allowed)
Director or Music Teacher is an active member of DBDA.
Students must commit to attending all rehearsals and performances during the Honor Band Weekend. Missing a portion of the rehearsals can result in disqualification or removal from the performance.
Completion of the audition registration form and payment.

Due by midnight on November 1st, 2026. No exceptions.

Audition Fee: $7.00 (any payment format, make checks out to "DBDA")

Audition Date & Location

Date: Saturday, December 5th, 2026

Location: TBD

Room: Music Rooms

Audition Process: We utilize a "blind" audition process to ensure fairness, meaning judges will hear the student's performance without seeing or knowing their identity. Students will be assigned an audition number upon arrival. No names will be used with the judge. Students will perform the required scales and etudes with judges focusing solely on tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality. Using a rubric ensures selection is based purely on musical merit and preparation.

Audition Materials

2026 - 27: Set IV - One Round of Auditions

Sheet Music - Use the cuts marked on these pages.

Students should prepare all 12 major scales, plus their chromatic scale, as detailed on the LMEA scale sheets, here. Only 6 scales will be chosen for the actual audition.

4-Mallet Exercise

40 Rudiments Chart

Note about String Bass:

Auditions for District VI Senior High Honor Band is the same as LMEA All-State Honor Orchestra, except we omit 1 etude. More info coming soon!

Audition Results & Final Registration

Audition Results will be posted to this page within 3 days after the audition.

Final Registration will be here after audition results are posted.

Performance Fee: $20.00 (includes an Honor Band T-Shirt) - payable with Cash, Check, Card, or Apple Pay

Payment is due by the first rehearsal of Honor Band Weekend.

Reading Rehearsal

TBD (2026-27)

The Reading Rehearsal is optional, but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This rehearsal offers a valuable opportunity to refine individual parts and connect with fellow musicians, ensuring everyone feels confident and prepared for the Honor Band Weekend rehearsals.

Date: TBD

Location: TBD

Time: TBD

Honor Band Weekend Details

Friday, January 8th - Sunday, January 10th

Roussel Hall, Loyola University

(6301 St Charles Ave #6399, New Orleans, LA 70118)

Weekend Schedule 2025-26 (for reference)

Friday - Rehearsals

Saturday - Rehearsals

Sunday - Performance

Concert Pieces & Recordings - coming soon!

All students must have their own:

Music
Pencil
Instrument (including reeds, valve oil, mallets, sticks, etc.)

Rehearsal Notes:

Cell phones are not allowed during rehearsals. Please keep them out of sight until breaks.

Lunch Notes:

This year, we will be providing lunch on Saturday. While we aim to accommodate as many needs as possible, we may not be able to offer options for all dietary restrictions. If your child has specific dietary requirements, please plan to send any necessary food items with them.
Food delivery services (Uber eats, etc.) have been extremely unreliable when delivering to this location. In the past, food arrived so late that students weren't able to eat until much later in the day. We strongly encourage you to bring your own lunch/snacks in addition to our provided meal if necessary.

Concert Attire:

"Sunday Best" or Semi-formal attire
- Appropriate tops
- Slacks or modest skirts/dresses
Please NO jeans, shorts, t-shirts, logos, tennis shoes, etc.
Note: We want to ensure a professional and respectful appearance for all performances. Please be aware that audience members in the front rows may have an upward viewing angle. Therefore, if your concert attire includes a skirt or dress that is above the knee, you must wear opaque tights underneath to maintain appropriate modesty. Your attention to this detail is greatly appreciated.

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