Any high school student-musician in the states of Indiana, Ohio, or Kentucky may be nominated by their director, provided they are currently a member of their high school music program in good standing (as determined by their band or orchestra director). In general, we are looking for the following instrumentation: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Trumpets, Horn in F, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, String Bass, Percussion, Harp, and Piano.

Directors should submit up to 12 of their most deserving students. While participants are selected with properly balanced and appropriate instrumentation in mind, but we will do our very best to ensure that every director who submits a nomination form has at least 1-2 students selected. For more information, please check the Nomination Procedures. Nominations are due by Friday, 15 November, 5pm.

Students (and their directors) will be notified of their selection to participate in the Tri-State Honor Band Symposium sometime after Monday, 18 November. Check the website after that date for a roster of accepted students and any alternate spots or openings.

After being selected for the Symposium, students will audition for placement into one of the two Symposium wind ensembles (Wind Symphony and Wind Orchestra). Check the Audition Procedures section for more information.

The registration fee for each student participant is $55.00. This fee must be paid by Friday, 6 December, 5 p.m. After this date, students who have not paid will be considered to have turned down their spot in the Symposium, and will be replaced with alternate musicians. Additionally, auditions are scheduled in reverse order of payment (i.e., the earlier we receive your payment, the later your audition time will be scheduled; the later we receive payment, the earlier your assigned audition time).

Payments may be made via credit or debit card online, or by submitting a check made out to "NKU Bands" (please write "Tri-State Symposium" in the notes field). Checks (for one student, or school check for multiple students) may be sent to:

NKU Bands
100 Nunn Dr.
Fine Arts Center 312
Highland Heights, KY 41099

Participants may be dropped off in the roundabout outside of Greaves Hall. If using a GPS navigator, your best bet is to input either “Steely Library” or “Greaves Concert Hall” as your destination. We will have Symposium staff on hand to direct students to registration, warmup, and audition rooms.

Participants who are driving themselves can use the NKU Welcome Center Garage on Friday. Gates at the garage will open automatically after 4pm, so you will not have to pay a parking fee, unless you leave campus before 4pm. On Saturday and Sunday you may park in Lot D or Lot I.

Directors who are bringing a bus may park in Lot O (located behind Truist Arena).

A list of hotels is provided here. If staying at a hotel, appropriate behaviour is expected of all students in accordance with your school’s proper conduct and behaviour guidelines. Students who are in violation of these guidelines may be sent home.

Unless otherwise specified, all meals are the responsibility of the student. There are various vending machines throughout the Fine Arts building, and several restaurants within a 5-minute drive. A list of options is included here.

Students should wear proper concert attire for the Symposium Finale concert. The NKU Bands Program recognizes the importance of a student’s right to individual gender expression, as well as the necessity for a unified and coherent look for ensemble performances. For the Symposium Finale concert on Sunday, students may choose from the options listed below. All performance clothing and footwear should be dress/formal rather than casual material or style. If you are unsure whether something is appropriate, please check with your own Director before the Symposium.

• Option A (M/F/O): For all of three of these options, black socks and black dress shoes are highly recommended. Cummerbund, suspenders, or vests are optional, as is a black suit jacket and black tie with the Modern Black option.

1. Modern Black: black pants (no denim), long-sleeved black button-down shirt.
2. Black Suit with white button-down shirt and a black tie.
3. Black Tuxedo (regular cut) with white tuxedo shirt and a black bowtie.

• Option B (M/F/O): For all three of these options, décolletage, shoulders, back, and midriff should be covered (no spaghetti straps, sleeveless tops, or crop tops). Open-toed shoes are acceptable with dark stockings or dark pantyhose. Simple jewelry is acceptable.

1. Black Dress, bottom of dress should fall below the knees.
2. Long black skirt with a black, long-sleeved blouse/shirt.
3. Black dress pants (no denim) with a black, long-sleeved blouse/shirt.

Not Recommended: Jeans/denim, chinos, slacks, sweatshirts, sweaters, sweatpants, polos, t-shirts, tailcoats, leggings (except when worn under a skirt or dress), hats, gloves, sneakers/athletic footwear. Please, no perfumes, colognes, or other scented lotions in rehearsal or performance, as these can trigger asthmatic and/or allergic reactions for other student musicians.

You do not have to wear your school's band uniform, unless that is your program's policy.

The Tri-State Band Symposium concludes with the Symposium Finale Concert on Sunday, 19 January at 1:00 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public and will be held in Greaves Concert Hall. Directors, parents, family, and friends are all encouraged to attend.