What festivals & competitions are available to IRHS Band Students?

ABODA Area and State Festivals:

The Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) concert & jazz ensemble festivals, and solo & ensemble events are some of the outside experiences offered to our band students throughout the school year. Students have the opportunity participate in contests and festivals to learn new approaches to musical learning and performances through feedback and clinics with highly successful and recognized music educators and clinicians. The Ironwood Ridge HS concert ensembles, and jazz band attend several adjudicated festivals festivals throughout the school year.

ABODA Area Festival:

Area festivals are located throughout the state of Arizona. Throughout the day, various concert bands, jazz bands, and orchestras will perform for judges and and audience, receiving quality feedback and a one-on-one clinic. The performance is evaluated for a rating from a panel of esteemed music adjudicators from around the country. In the spring, all ensembles earning a rating of "Excellent" or higher at an ABODA area festival, will be eligible to advance to the state festival held in Phoenix during the month of April.

Ironwood Ridge Concert & Jazz Bands have proudly advanced to the ABODA State Festival every year they have participated at the spring ABODA concert festivals!

ABODA State Festival:

State Festivals are located in the Phoenix metropolitan area in late April/early May. Throughout the day, various bands and orchestras will perform for judges and and audience, receiving quality feedback and participate in a sight reading session. For the sight reading session, students will receive a new piece of music, briefly read through it, and then perform it for a judge to demonstrate the group's sight reading ability. The performance and sight reading session are both evaluated for a rating from a panel of esteemed music adjudicators from around the United States, and combined to form the groups final score and rating.

AMEA All-Region and All-State Festivals:

2022 AMEA All-Region Band & Orchestra:

All-Region Registration & Audition Payment of $25 due on November 1, 2021. Checks are to be written to "Ironwood Ridge Music Association."

Participation in the Regional Orchestra and All-State Festivals are prestigious and highly recommended ensembles for all Arizona high school musicians. Preparation involves rehearsals outside of the school day. Students can audition for the ABODA Regional Festival on (Saturday, January 22, 2022) at The University of Arizona and will know their results shortly after by email from the orchestra director. If selected, the students will participate in Regional Orchestra on (February 18-19, 2022), missing a Friday of school. IRHS participates in the South-Central Region and this year, the all-region the practices/performance will be held at a Sahuarita High School, located on south of Tucson in the town of Sahuarita. There will be concert featuring the All-Regional band, orchestra, and choir at the rehearsal site on the afternoon of Saturday 19, 2022. Students will each be given two complimentary tickets. Extra tickets may be purchased upon arrival at the performance site's box office.

Students will meet at Ironwood Ridge both mornings of the festival, and will be driven via district vehicle to the rehearsal site. Parents may pickup their students at the festival site following the Saturday performances. An excused absence form will be provided to students by Mr. Knepper following auditions.

Students selected for the all-region ensembles will have to pay a participation payment of $25. Checks are to be written to "Ironwood Ridge Music Association."

2022 AMEA All-State Band & Orchestra:

All-State Registration & Audition Payment of $25 due on (Date TBD). Checks are to be written to "Ironwood Ridge Music Association."

Students who have both completed the All-Region Festival and placed in the top 50% of scores for their instrument qualify for this audition. The ensembles are comprised of some of the top musicians from around the state of Arizona, and it is a distinct honor to be selected for All-State. The festivals are led by conductors of the highest caliber, from around the world. Auditions will be held in south Phoenix at Mountain Pointe H.S. on (Saturday, March 12, 2022). This AMEA All-State Festival is a three-day event in April rotating between the state's major universities. This year's festival will be held at the Northern Arizona University from April 7-9, 2022, and will require the student to miss both a Thursday and Friday from school.

This will be a trip will three days, and two nights, and we will stay at a hotel near the festival site. An excused absence form will be provided by Mr. Knepper. Students will meet at Ironwood Ridge Thursday morning of the festival, and will be driven via district vehicle to the rehearsal site. Parents should be plan to attend the festival site and pickup their students following the Saturday performances. An excused absence form will be provided to students by Mr. Knepper following auditions.

Students selected for the all-region ensembles will have to pay a participation payment of $25. Checks are to be written to "Ironwood Ridge Music Association."

*Selected students will also be responsible for paying for the hotel & meals costs for this trip. Exact prices will be determined once students have been selected.