Honor Music Festival
The Shepherd University Music is proud to announce its Twenty-Second Annual Honor Music Festival, taking place on two special dates on our campus in Shepherdstown, WV.
- The Honor Wind and Honor Jazz Festival will take place over Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, from Saturday, January 16 through Sunday, January 17, 2027.
- The Honor Choir Festival was held on Friday, January 22, 2027
This annual event offers exceptional musical opportunities for students selected to participate in the Honor Wind Ensemble, Honor Jazz Ensemble, and Honor Choir, providing enriching and meaningful musical experiences in a collegiate setting.
HONOR JAZZ AND WIND FESTIVAL
The Honor Jazz and Wind Festival is a two-day event designed for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to create exceptional music and collaborate with Shepherd University faculty conductors as well as distinguished guest conductors.
This year’s Honor Wind Ensemble conductors will be Mr. Dan Kalantarian, Emeritus Director of Athletic Bands at Memphis, Ball State, Wake Forest, Hawaii, and Idaho State Universities, and Dr. Scott Hippensteel, Director for the Shepherd University School of Music. The conductors for the Honor Jazz Ensemble will be Mr. Scott Silbert, Retired US Navy Commodores, Saxophone and Staff Arranger, and Dr. Kurtis Adams, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Director of Jazz Studies.
Participants will also have the opportunity to work with our exceptional applied faculty through master classes, performances, and clinics, and enjoy inspiring concerts by the Shepherd University Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and faculty chamber ensembles.
Shepherd Honor Music Festival 2027 will include Honor Wind Ensemble and Honor Jazz Ensemble. These ensembles will be finalized in early December and all Honor Music Festival participants and band directors will be notified of these ensemble placements via email by December 11. All Honor Music Festival participants should receive a packet in the mail before Christmas that includes the cover letter, schedule, honor festival information, and printed music. If you do not receive your packet by Christmas, please contact our Recruiting Coordinator, Heather Wilson (hwilson@shepherd.edu)
Link to Jazz Music
Listening links for the Honor Wind Ensemble:
Honor Wind Ensemble Guest Conductor
Honor Music Festival Schedule 2027
HONOR CHOIR FESTIVAL
The Honor Choir one-day event includes wonderful learning opportunities for students and Professional Development sessions for choir directors at no additional cost. High school choir teachers and 8-10 of their finest students will collaborate with faculty and students from the Shepherd University School of Music, including Dr. Jason Strunk, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, and guest clinician Dr. Coreen Duffy, Associate Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Colorado Boulder. To demonstrate their growth, students will present a final concert.