|
Wilbur "Bill" Thompson
began
teaching a group of students in his
living room in
1952. A year later he
expanded the group and founded
the
first full-group band
organization in Colorado. |
Instrumental music has
flourished
with the Colorado Honor
Band now for 54 years. From its modest beginnings as a
single six-piece band, our program has grown and evolved
over the years into a full set of concert bands guided by a
team of dedicated professional musicians, teachers, and
returning alumni. Our original instrumental curriculum for
beginning students (written by
Harley
Brown) establishes for them a strong musical foundation
that prepares them for success. Building upon that
foundation, we offer a comprehensive music education that
includes one-on-one instruction, weekly band rehearsals and
Master Classes, music theory training, workshops, audition
experiences, and a variety of performance opportunities.
Consequently, Colorado Honor Band has established a
reputation for excellence. Over the past 54 years, our
ensembles have performed at conventions, World’s Fairs,
Disney venues, and international music festivals in the
United States and in Europe.
Today the
Colorado Honor Band supports seven outstanding instrumental
groups: Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Advanced Band,
Symphonic Band, Symphony Winds, and two Jazz Bands. The
regional Beginning and Intermediate Band groups meet for one
hour a week and one and half hours a week, respectively, for
band rehearsal and individual instruction. Similarly, the
top three ensembles meet once a week for two hours, with
thirty minutes set aside for individual instruction and
sectionals. Furthermore, our staff and organization help
music programs around the state, teaching, adjudicating, and
sharing equipment and music with community organizations.
The Colorado Honor Band Music Library houses over 1500
scores and represents the largest variety of community band
music for all levels of student musicians in the state. |
