NCBA All Northern Honor Band FAQ
Who is NCBA?
NCBA is the Northern California Band Association. NCBA was originally founded as a judging association and continues to provide adjudication at many parade, field show, and winter activity events throughout Northern California. Over time, the association expanded to offer a high school honor band, concert band festival, jazz band festival, and in 2007 a junior high honor band.
What is the NCBA All-Northern Honor Band?
The NCBA All-Northern Honor Band is an opportunity for selected students from Northern and Central California to participate in an intense weekend of rehearsals with an inspiring conductor in preparation for a Sunday afternoon concert. The event is usually held the third weekend in January in Stockton at San Joaquin Delta College.
Who can audition for the All-Northern Honor Band?
Band students in California not served by the Southern California Band and Orchestra Director Association (SCSBOA) All-Southern Honor Band are eligible to audition. Students must be members in good standing with their school band program. The audition music and scales are exactly the same as the CBDA All-State Honor band. The school band director must submit the fees, applications, and student audition CDs. The band director must be a member of NCBA, and each school submitting auditions must also pay a school fee to support the expense of the honor band. Links to the online and PDF application forms are available on this web page.
Is the All-Northern Honor Band the same as the Nor-Cal Honor Band?
No. However, many use the terms interchangeably. The All-Northern Honor Band is similar to, but not the same as the Northern California Band Directors Association (NCBDA) Nor-Cal Honor Band. The Nor-Cal honor band has been serving California band students in the region roughly north of Interstate 80 for over 50 years. The Nor-Cal high school honor band is the first weekend in February, and the location changes from year to year. The All-Northern Honor Band was begun in 1997 to offer a regional honor band experience for California band students outside of the All-Southern Honor Band area (roughly North of Bakersfield, to the Oregon border). The event covers a larger area that completely overlaps the Nor-Cal region. The All-Northern Honor Band is the third weekend in January, and has been held at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton since 1999. The All-Northern Junior High Honor Band was added in 2008 and happens the same weekend as the All Northernhigh school honor band. High school and junior high students in the Nor-Cal region are welcome to audition for both Nor-Cal and All-Northern honor bands. However, the All-Northern Junior high band is held the same weekend as the Nor-Cal Junior High Honor Band. Both organizations use the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) All-State honor band audition material, however each is run by separate organizations requiring separate application forms and fees.
What is the honor band schedule for the weekend?
The 2016 All-Northern Bands will meet January 20-22, 2017at San Joaquin Delta Collegein Stockton.
High School Honor band:
Friday
8AM-10AM: Registration In the Holt 113, band room
8:30AM- Live audition for seating placement begins, students are free after their audition to get lunch
1PM-5PM: First Rehearsal, in Holt 113
Dinner Break
7PM-9PM: Second Rehearsal, in Atherton Auditorium Concert Hall
Saturday:
9AM-Noon: Third Rehearsal, in the Atherton Auditorium
Lunch break
1:30PM-5PM: Fourth Rehearsal, in the Atherton Auditorium
Sunday:
10:30AM: Sound Check rehearsal on stage, in concert dress for photo
(Report time and length of rehearsal may vary at conductor’s discretion. Listen to all verbal announcements at the end of rehearsal.)
Lunch break
1:30PM- approx. 3:30PM: Honor Band Concert
Junior High Honor Band
Friday
8:00AM-9AM Registration (there is no live audition, students are seated by recorded audition score) in Atherton Auditorium. Use the Performers Entrance.
9AM-Noon: First Rehearsal, in Atherton Auditorium
Lunch Break
1:00PM-5PM: Second Rehearsal, in the Atherton Auditorium
Saturday:
9AM-Noon: Third Rehearsal, in Holt 113
Lunch break
1:30PM-5PM: Fourth Rehearsal, in Holt 113
Sunday:
Noon: Sound Check rehearsal on stageat Atherton Auditorium, in concert dress for photo
(Report time and length of rehearsal may vary at conductor’s discretion. Listen to all verbal announcements at the end of rehearsal.)
1:30PM- approx. 3:30PM Honor Band Concert
What is the required fee once I am accepted?
NCBA requires no additional fee to participate in the honor band. The student application fee and school fee cover the cost of organizing the honor band. However, unlike the CBDA All-State Honor Band, NCBA does not provide housing, food, or supervision outside of rehearsal during the honor band weekend. This may be an additional expense you will need to discuss with your director and/or parents.
Who will be supervising students for the honor band weekend?
The director, parent or guardian of a participating student must arrange for housing, food, and supervision in accordance with your school policies when the student is not in rehearsal. NCBA does not accept responsibility for students outside of rehearsal. Accepted students are required to return a medical release form, and conduct contract to participate in the honor band.
What do I play for the high school live audition?
One or two band directors will listen to students individually. The judges will choose one or more scales from the recorded audition, as well as one major or melodic minor scale up to four sharps or flats that was not on the recorded audition for the student to play. All scales must be memorized. Students will also be asked to play all or a part of the recorded audition solo, and will be asked to sight-read as part of the live audition.
I may be late for the high school live auditions. Is that OK?
Live auditions begin at 8:30AM on a first-come basis. Most sections finish auditions between 11AM and Noon. Students who arrive by 10AM should be able to complete the live audition. Students who miss the live audition will be seated at the end of the section, but must be present for the first rehearsal starting at 1PM.
I have a schedule conflict. May I miss part of a rehearsal?
NO! A student who is accepted to the honor band is agreeing to participate fully in the event for the weekend. It is not fair to the group or the conductor to rehearse with an incomplete ensemble. The first hour of rehearsal sets the tone for the whole weekend. Students who are late to rehearsal will be removed from the honor band. Many high schools have final exams the week of the honor band. Please make alternate arrangements for your finals, or you will not be able to participate in the honor band.
What hotels do you recommend in Stockton?
Hotels convenient to Delta College and many restaurants are located in the area of March Lane and I-5. These include the Marriott properties, Super 8 Motel, LaQuinta Inn, and Red Roof Inn. The Holiday Inn is closest to Delta College and the nearby malls. Hotels in the Charter Way or Highway 4 area are not recommended.
How do I get to San Joaquin Delta College?
If you are coming from highway 99, take the Highway 4 Cross-town Freeway West to I-5 North. From either direction on I-5, take the March Lane exit and go East (there are some signs directing you to San Joaquin Delta College).
Drive approx. 2 miles on March Lane, then turn leftonto Pacific Avenue.
Turn left at the next stoplight, which is Yokuts. Bear left at the split. You can park in the first large lot to the right (L-Lot). The Auditorium and Holt Hall are the closest buildings to the L lot.
What about a T-shirt?
Each student participating in the honor band will be given a t-shirt at no extra cost in the size noted on your application form. If you did not indicate a size, you will be given a large t-shirt. Extra t-shirts will be available for sale for $10 during the honor band weekend. Contact Mr. Matt Mackey, parade and field chair if you would like to reserve any of these extra shirts.
How do I order a CD or MP3 of the concert recording?
Please visit place your order online. Recordings can be purchased up to 1 month after the concert.
I don’t remember, did I already order a CD?
Contact Living Sound at ..
Will I be able to order a photo?
The photographer will provide order information at the first rehearsal, and the day of the concert. We will also post the order from on this web site when available. Please contact Miguel Izurieta or (916) 729-9110.
This FAQ did not answer my question. Who do I contact?
For high school honor band questions: contact
Virginia Stephens All Northern Honor Band Chair: r (209) 369-3316
For junior high school honor band questions, contact
Louise Jacob, NCBA Junior High Honor Band Coordinator at
For T-Shirt orders: contact Matt Mackey at or
(707) 290-5113