Prairie Winds Festival


Spring 2012 - February 3-5

We will continue to accept students on a space-available basis. Click Here to Apply

The Ninth Annual Prairie Winds Festival will take place on the campus of the University of Kansas, February 3-5, 2012. 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 quickly established itself as one of the premier honor band festivals in the nation. Indeed, 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
Thomas Stidham, Associate Director of Bands
Matthew O. Smith, Assistant Director of Bands
David Fedele, 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 masterclasses, 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

9:00am Registration: Murphy Hall, 1st Floor/Faculty Meeting
10:00 - Noon Seating Auditions
Noon - 12:45pm Lunch
12:45 - 1:00pm General Meeting and Prairie Winds Introductions
1:00 - 3:30pm Clinic with Ku applied faculty, small ensemble coaching
3:30 - 4:30pm Break - Optional campus tour
4:30 - 5:15pm KU Collage Concert
5:15 - 6:00pm Perform with small ensembles
6:00 - 7:00pm Dinner
7:00-9:30pm Rehearsal
10:00 - Midnight Check-in at the Marriott/Pool Party

Saturday

7:30am Breakfast at hotel
8:20am Report to bus
9:00 - Noon Rehearsal/KU Entrance and scholarship auditions
Noon - 1:45pm Lunch and browsing in downtown Lawrence*
1:45pm Report to bus (9th & Massachusetts)
2:30 - 3:30pm Brass and Percussion Masterclasses/Woodwind Sectionals
3:30 - 4:30pm Woodwind Masterclasses/Brass and Percussion Sectionals
4:30 - 6:00pm Rehearsal
6:00 - 7:00pm Pizza Party
7:30pm KU Wind Ensemble/Jazz Ensemble I Concert: Lied Center
9:00pm Post-Concert Party

Sunday

7:30am Breakfast at hotel/check-out
8:15am Report to buses
9:00 - 11:30am Dress rehearsal: Lied Center
11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Concert (open to public): Lied Center  

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, February 4th.

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, February 4th.

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.


The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.