Prairie Winds Festival
Spring 2014 - January 31 - February 2, 2014
Click to download the 2014 Prairie Winds Festival poster! (pdf)
We will continue to accept students on a
space-available basis. Apply here
The Eleventh Annual Prairie Winds Festival will take place on the campus of the University of Kansas », January 31 - February 2, 2014. Providing an opportunity for advanced instruction for outstanding high school wind and percussion performers in a supportive, yet challenging environment, the Prairie Winds Festival has established itself as one of the premier honor band festivals in the nation. Each year outstanding students from across the United States converge on the KU campus to take part in this unique and exciting musical opportunity.
Faculty
Faculty for the weekend is comprised of the artist faculty from the University of Kansas ». Students will work directly with these outstanding musicians and teachers throughout the weekend in master classes, clinics, chamber music coachings, and wind ensemble rehearsals.
Dr. Paul W. Popiel, Director of Bands
Matthew O. Smith, Associate Director of Bands
Sharon Toulouse, Assistant Director of Bands
Dr. Sarah Frisof, flute
Dr. Margaret Marco, oboe
Dr. Eric Stomberg, bassoon
Dr. Stephanie Zelnick, clarinet
Vincent Gnojek, saxophone
Steve Leisring, trumpet
Dr. Paul Stevens, horn
Dr. Michael Davidson, trombone
Scott Watson, tuba & euphonium
Ji Hye Jung, percussion
Festival Format
During the festival, students participate in master classes, chamber ensembles, and performance in select wind ensembles. The festival concludes with performances at KU's celebrated Lied Center ». A tentative schedule is below:
| Friday | |
| 9:00 am | Registration: Murphy Hall, 1st Floor |
| 10:00 am | Seating Auditions (in studios) |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 12:45 pm | General Meeting and KU applied faculty introductions |
| 1:00 pm |
Clinics with KU applied faculty, small ensemble coaching Percussion - Room 110 |
| 3:30 pm | Prarie Winds small ensembles concert - Room 118 |
| 4:45 pm | KU Collage Recital - Room 130 |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Prairie Winds Bands Rehearsal |
| 9:15 pm | Hotel Check-in |
| 9:30 pm | Swimming and pizza |
| Saturday | |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast at hotel |
| 8:15 am | Report to bus, travel to Murphy Hall |
| 9:00 am |
Prairie Winds Bands Rehearsal/KU School of Music auditions KU School of Music Entrance Auditions: |
| 11:00 am | Lunch downtown on your own |
| 1:30 pm | Report to busses for return to Murphy Hall (9th & Mass. St.) |
| 2:00 pm | Woodwind master classes/Brass & Percussion sectionals: Rooms 111, 114, 148, 574, 575 |
| 3:10 pm | Brass & Percussion master classes/Woodwind sectionals: Rooms 111, 114, 148, 574, 575 |
| 4:20 pm | Prairie Winds Bands Rehearsal |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Report to busses for travel to Lied Center, bring instruments, etc. with you |
| 7:30 pm | KU Wind Ensemble & Jazz Ensemble I Concert |
| 9:00 pm | Return to hotel |
| Sunday | |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast at hotel, pack bags and check out |
| 8:15 am | Report to busses for travel to Lied Center |
| 9:00 am | Dress rehearsal |
| noon | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | Prairie Winds Festival concert |
| 2:30 pm (est.) | Students released to parents |
Festival Fee
All participants are charged $150.00 for participation in the festival. This includes the cost of housing and all meals except lunch on Saturday. A $25.00 non-refundable registration fee is included in the $150.00 participation fee.
Commuter option: Students may elect to commute to campus each day of the festival for a 50% reduction in the festival fee. For commuters, the festival fee will be $75. Students will participate in all events of the festival except those taking place at the hotel. Commuters will need to be on campus from 9am-9:30pm on Friday and Saturday, and 9am-2:30pm on Sunday.
Housing/Meals
Participants are housed in the Lawrence SpringHill Suites » and are chaperoned by a trained staff of counselors.
*All meals are included in registration fee except for lunch Saturday.
Transportation
Festival participants are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Lawrence for the weekend. Lawrence is convenient to the Kansas City International Airport » (MCI), and transportation from the airport is available.
