About the Honor Festivals

Each year the San Juan Music Educators Association sponsors a Senior Honor Festival, in order to bring together the top music students in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties to rehearse and perform under some of the most inspirational guest conductors the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  Along with this honor comes the expectation of  careful preparation of the assigned music, so rehearsals can reach beyond the notes to where the magic of any musical experience begins.   

The Senior Honor Festival takes place in November, typically on Veterans Day Observed, with one evening rehearsal about a week before. 
2025 Festival Details
  • ​Nominations Due: Monday, September 22, 2025
  • Acceptance Notification and Music: September 29, 2025
  • Rehearsals and Sectionals: Monday, October 27, 2025
    • Orchestra @ Sehome High SChool 5:30-7:30 PM
    • ​Band @ Mt. Vernon High School 6:00-8:00 PM
    • Choir @ Bellingham High School 6:00-8:00 PM
  • Postmark Deadline​: Monday, November 3, 2025
  • Festival: Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Additional Information

​Concert Cost Information: By Donation

Senior Student Participation Cost - $20
(Checks must be payable to SJMEA.  Checks from districts, ASB, booster clubs, and PTAs are preferred)
  • SJMEA does not accept payment from families - under any circumstance.  
  • Families must pay their school or boosters and the director will ensure the full amount of the invoice is paid.
  • Bookkeeper will include the invoice and mark the check with the event it is paying for and the school it is paying for.  
  • SJMEA never accepts cash or purchase orders.
    
What do students need to bring for the rehearsal?
- Music
- Labeled instruments with name and school so we can easily identify them.
- Pencil, extra reeds, strings anything you need to keep you rehearsing.

What honor students should wear for the concert:
- Your School's Concert Uniform

What students do for Lunch and Dinner:
- Lunch: Students will bring a sack Lunch
- Dinner:  The concert will conclude before dinner time.

High School Honors Festival Past Programs

Band

2024 Percussion Ensemble (Kay Reilly)
HeliX by Eric Rath
 
Honor Band: Dr. T. Andre Feagin
Lindbergh Variations, Robert Sheldon
Stillwater, Kelijah Denton
Blue Radiance, Nicole Piunno
Armed Forces- The Pride of America! Arr. Larry Clark and Greg Gilpin

2023: Paul Bain
Halcyon Hearts by Katahj Copley
Our Castaways by Julie Giroux
Foundry by John Mackey
Armed Forces- the Pride of America!, arranged
​by Larry Clark and Greg Gilpin

2022: Dr. Ed Powell

2020 (Virtual: Dr. Christopher Bianco

2019: Dr. Christopher Bianco

2018: Paul Bain

2017: Bruce Gutgesell

​2016: Dr. Ed Pwell

2015:  Dr. Chris Bianco
2014: Dr, Gerard Morris


2013: Dr. Christopher Bianco
    His Honor March -  Henry Filmore
    Yorkshire Ballad - James Barnes
    Snakes - Thomas C. Duffy
    Chester - William Schuman


2012: Rob Patterson
    Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo - Malcolm Arnold
    Shenandoah - Frank Ticheli
    Festivo - Vaclav Nelhybel
    The Thunderer - John Philip Sousa

2011: Dr. Ed Powell

2010: Dr. Tim Robblee

2009: Dr. Rob Taylor

2008: Dr. Christopher Bianco

2007: Dr. Carla Rutchman
    Flight of the Pegasus -  David Shaffer
    Amazing Grace - Frank Ticheli
    Selections from "Phantom of the Opera"
                                                    arr. Warren Barker
    Allegro Barbaro  - Bela Bartok


2002: Lylburn Layer
    On The Mall Edwin - Franko Goldman
    Third Suite - Robert Jager
    Rhythm of the Winds -  Frank Erickson
    Selections from "Fiddler on The Roof" -
                                                    arr. Warren Barker


2001: Dr. Suzanne Banister
    Noble Men March - Fillmore, ed. Foster                  Arabesque - Shaffer
    Three Ayres from Gloucester - Stuart
    Caravan Ellington -  arr. Saucedo






2000: Dr. Steven Morrison
     Brighton Beach - Latham
     Dragoon's Farewell - arr. Karrick
     Mazama - Chattaway
     Folk Dances - Shostakovich, arr. Curnow

Orchestra

2024:  Dr. Yuchi Chou
Jambo by Paul Basler, arr. Kirk Moss
Czardas by Monti, arr. Del Borgo
Salut d’Amour by Elgar, arr. Soon Hee Newbold
Emerald Falcon by Richard Meyer


2023: Bruce Walker
​Cephale et Procis by Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre
Scenes from the Scottish Highlands by Granville Bantock
     II. Dirge. The Isle of Mull. (An cronan Muillach.)
     V. Reel. The de’il amang the tailors.
Souvenirs by Christopher Ducasse
Dance the Night by Andrew Watt, Mark Ronson,
​Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, arranged by Alison Gillies

2022: Dr. James Ray
   Aus Holberg's Zeit, I. Praeludium - E. Grieg
   Adagio Cantabile,from The "Cinnamon Grove"
    Suite - R. Nathaniel Dett, Arr. James Ray
   West Coast Journey - Caleb Vaughn-Jones 

2020 (Virtual): Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel
   Jupiter from The Planets - Gustav Holst Arr. John
    Caponergro
   Deep River - Morton Gould

2019: Ron Jones
   Simple Symphony - Benjamin Britton
   American Reel - Kirt Mosier

2018: Kim Roy
   Divertimento in D, K. 136 - W. A. Mozart (I, II)
   Romanian Folk Dances - Bela Bartok Arr. Deborah
   Baker Monday

2017: Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel
   Royal Fireworks Overture - G.F. Handel Arr. Todd
   Parrish
   Nimrod - Edward Elgar Arr. Clark McAlister
   Hoedown - Aaron Copland

​2016: Bruce Walker
   Overture in D Minor Op. 4 No. 2 - Francesco
   Barsanti
   Movement 1 demo Suite - Christopher Wilson
   Capriccio No. 1 from String Orchestra - Dragon
   Suplevski

​2015:  Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel
   Two Elegiac Melodies, #1: Herzwunden - Edvard
   Grieg
   Serenade for Strings: Finale - Antonin Dvorak

2014: Wesley Schulz
   The Little Fugue in G minor - J.S. Bach Arr. Doan
   Andante Festivo - Jean Sibelius
   Downton Abbey - John Lunn, Arr. Moore
   Pictures of Puget Sound - Alan Lee Silva
   Concerto Grosso No. 1: Prelude - Bloch, Arr. Ernest

2013: Adam Stern
    Allegro Assai, Op. 5 No. 9 - Tomaso Albinoni
    Beautiful Dreamer - Steven Foster, arr. Mike Lewis
    Brook Green Suite - Gustav Holst
​
2012: Dr. Elliott Cobbs
    “Divertimento in F, K138” - Mozart
            Movements I, II and III
    St. Paul Suite
             Movement IV "Dargason"

2011: Jim Rice

2010: Tam Osborne

2009:

2008:

2007:

2002: Grant Sears
    Molly On The Shore - Percy Grainger
    Rhosymedre - Ralph Vaughan Williams
     Sinfonia #9 in C, IV. Allegro - Felix Mendelssohn

2001: Tam Osborne
     Holberg Suite - Grieg
            I. Praelude,
            II. Sarabande,
            III. Gavotte & Musette,
            IV. Air,
            V. Rigaudon
    Simple  Symphony IV. Frolicsome Finale - Brittan

2000: Clyde Mitchell
    Pastel Blue for Strings
    Symonds Serenade for Strings, op. 48
                                    - Waltzer Tschaikowsky
    Lullaby -  Gershwin
    Hoe Down from "Rodeo" -  Copland

Choir

2024 Dr. Richard Hodges
Cum Sancto Spiritu by Vivaldi, arr. Liebergen
In Silent Night by Mitchell B. Southall
Sure on This Shining Night, Morten Lauridsen
Rockin’ Jerusalem by Andre J. Thomas

2023: Angela Kasper
In Meeting We Are Blessed- Troy D. Robertson
A Little Song of Life- Reginald Unterseher
Tres Cantos Nativos Dos Indios Krao- arr. Marcus Leite
Be Optimistic- Trey McLaughlin
​
2022: Dr. Nicole Lamartine

2020 (Virtual): Dr. Angie Kasper

2019: Dr. Angie Kasper

2018: Jacob Herbert

2017: Tim Fitzpatrick

​2016: Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone

2015:  Dinah Helgeson
2014:  Timothy Black

2013: Ken Pendegrass
    Exsultate justi in Domino - Brant Adams
    Nine Hundred Miles - arr. Philip E. Sivey
    Imbakwa - Jim Papoulis
    Some Nights - Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost,                                Jack Antonoff and Jeffery Bhasker

2012: Mr. Rick Asher
    Fanfare For All Seasons - Linda Spevacek
    A Red, Red, Rose - James Mulholland
    Rhythm of Life - Cy Coleman,
    The Awakening - Joseph M. Martin

2011:

2010:

2009:

2008:

2007: Dr. Diane Johnson
    Warum - Johannes Brahms
    Cindy - arr. Carol Barnett
    He Never Failed Me Yet -  Robert Ray




2002: Dr. Marvin Regier
    Ore, Fermate Il Volo - Torquato Tasso
                                                    arr. Hawley
    Cantique de Jean Racine - Gabriel Faure
    Prayer of the Children Kurt Bestor - arr. Klouse     He Is A Comin' Soon-  arr. Regier
    Salmo 150 Ernani - Aguiar

2001: Charles Peterson (ill on day of concert),                     Garry Potts (substitute day of concert)

    Songs of Contemplation Young
                (Poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson)
    O Whistle and I'll Come to Ye - arr. Wilberg
    We Shall Walk Through The Valley of Peace
                   - arr. Hogan
    Soon Ah Will Be Done - arr. Dawson


2000: Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone
    Dance, Dance My Heart Diemer
    Laudate, Pueri, laudate nomen Domini
                                    -  Pergolesi
    O Whistle and I'll Come To Ye Burns
                                     - arr. Wilberg
    The Water Is Wide - arr. Clausen
    When The Trumpet Sounds - Thomas