Nominations

Participants in the 2025 Tri-State Band Symposium will be selected via Director Nomination. Nominations may only be submitted by the school's band or orchestra director, nominations cannot be accepted if they are submitted by a student or parent. Please encourage your director to submit a nomination form if you are interested in participating in the 2025 Tri-State Band Symposium. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, 15 November at 5pm. 

Auditions

Auditions for placement and seating into one of the two Symposium wind ensembles will take place on the Friday of the event. We at the NKU Bands are aware that there are many honor band festival opportunities for our Tri-State area’s high school musicians. In order to not overload our young musicians, we are instituting the following changes for the 2025 NKU Tri-State Band Symposium, in the hopes that this will make life a little easier for our high-achieving students who wish to participate in as many events as possible:

Audition music for the 2025 NKU Tri-State Band Symposium may consist of any one of the following:

• The 2025 Tri-State Band Symposium Audition Music (see right sidebar for your specific instrument)...

• Audition Music for your state’s All-State Band or Orchestra (Kentucky, Indiana, or Ohio)...

• Audition Music for your county’s, district’s, or region’s honor band. For example, in Kentucky, this would be your District Select Band audition music. In Ohio, this would be your District Honor Band audition music. In Indiana, this would be your All-Region or All-District Honor Band audition music...

Regardless of which audition music you choose, all auditions will also include the following: 

• Chromatic Scale - Starting on any preferred pitch, articulated on the way up, slurred on the way down. It is highly preferable for you to perform two octaves if possible.    

• Scales - At least two scales with arpeggios (any major/minor scales are acceptable), articulated on the way up, and slurred on the way down. At least one scale should be two octaves.   

• No Sightreading will be required.

Pianists and Harpists should perform an excerpt of your own choosing, between 1:30 and 2:00 in length. Please select something that demonstrates technical and lyrical facility.

Check here for some great Audition Tips to help you as you prepare your audition...