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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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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.




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