Batavia Band Festival
Since 2018, the Batavia Bands have hosted the Batavia Band Festival, which welcomes high school non-top bands to perform in the Batavia Fine Arts Centre in a non-competitive atmosphere with clinicians suited for this level of student. The Batavia Band Festival is the first exclusively non-top band festival of its kind in Illinois.
Each ensemble receives a 20-minute professionally recorded performance on our tremendous Batavia Fine Arts Center Main Stage. Each ensemble receives comments from our clinicians specifically chosen for this festival, a percussionist-only commentary, and a 45-minute clinic with one of our clinicians specifically chosen to enhance the educational experience for students and directors alike. There are no awards, ratings, or placements for this clinic – we are just trying to create wonderful educational experiences for all of the student performers.
The cost for this festival is $300 for each performing ensemble. Invoices will be sent upon acceptance.
Our adjudicators for the 2024 Batavia Band Festival will be:
- Mr. Bill Jastrow, Retired Music Supervisor, Indian Prairie Schools #204 (Percussion Evaluator)
- Dr. James Lambrecht, Band Director at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
- Mrs. Rachel Maxwell, Band Director at Traughber Jr. High School, Oswego, IL
- Lt. Col. Bryan Miller, Commander/Conductor, US Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, Peoria, IL
- Mr. Chip Staley, Merit School of Music, Chicago, IL
- Mr. Jim Stombres, Retired Band Director from St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, IL
- Mr. Brayer Teague, Retired Band Director from Downers Grove North HS, Downers Grove, IL
Registration for this event has closed – the festival is full.
See this list of previously performed literature and the ensembles that have performed at the Batavia Band Festival.
Questions about the Batavia Band Festival can be directed to Chris Owen.
