Concert Band Festival: A Music for All Affiliate Regional Music Festival presented by Yamaha

A concert band ensemble actively performing on Ted Mann Concert Hall stage with a conductor standing in front of the ensemble with his hands raised.
The Mounds View High School Concert Band perform at the 2024 UMN-TC Concert Band Festival under the direction of Bill Sucha.

The 2025 Concert Band Festival will take place on Friday, March 7 AND Saturday, March 8. Professor Emeritus and Yamaha Master Educator Craig Kirchhoff will join UMN-TC Band Faculty as a Clinician.

Register

The University of Minnesota Concert Band Festival will be held on the Minneapolis campus in Ted Mann Concert Hall. This non-competitive event offers an experience for high school concert band students and conductors to enhance their growth as ensemble musicians. Each participating concert band will experience an environment of mutual respect and all are offered the opportunity to enjoy performances from other concert ensembles throughout the day. Ten to twelve high school concert bands will participate and performances by University of Minnesota musicians will be featured.

2025 Approximate Performance Timeline: Friday: 4-8pm / Saturday: 8-3pm

Each high school concert band will have a 20 minutes performance and a 45 minute clinic. Each performance will be professionally audio and video recorded. Recordings will be available to conductors shortly after the festival. Repertoire is selected by the conductors; three additional sets of scores for clinicians is required. Professional concert attire is encouraged.

Participation in the Concert Band Festival includes

  • Performance on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall
  • Clinic for ensemble with guest or UMN faculty clinician
  • Written comments from guest or UMN faculty clinicians
  • Opportunity to hear other ensembles perform and receive clinic
  • Audio recording of performance
  • Commemorative plaque signifying participation 
  • A full complement of large percussion equipment and a grand piano will be available.

Concert Band Festival Registration and Fees

Participation Fee is $500.00 per ensemble. This fee covers audio recording, staff, and venue expenses.

After completing the online registration form and receiving confirmation, an invoice request will be generated and emailed to the contact provided. Follow instructions on the invoice to complete the payment. DO NOT send checks to our offices.

Stage Plot, Equipment, and Meal Needs

AFTER you receive registration confirmation, email a stage plot to ubands@umn.edu and complete the equipment and meal needs form. This form indicates equipment needs and how many students will eat dinner. The hours of Middlebrook Dining Hall availability in Spring 2025 have not yet been determined.
 
All visiting schools (students and faculty) are on their own for meals during the day. A few restaurants on the West Bank include Chipotle, Davanni's, Thai Garden Fusion, Jimmy John's, and Town Hall. View a more comprehensive list of restaurants. 

Questions?

Contact ubands@umn.edu