FAQ | OWU Music Festival

What do Teachers need to do after the roster is announced?

1. Share practice parts with accepted students.
2. Tell parents about the confirmation form due date (Jan. 8) and payment due date (Jan. 15).
3. Coordinate travel arrangements, check-in plans, and Saturday lunch plans with participating families.
4. Notify the Festival Director (rdedward@owu.edu) ASAP if any accepted students are unable to attend.
5. Encourage students to practice!

What do Parents need to do after the roster is announced?

1. Complete the parent confirmation form by Jan. 8 to verify media release, identify medical issues, indicate any dietary restrictions, and reserve the extra Saturday lunch if needed.
2. Coordinate travel arrangements, payment, and Saturday lunch plans with their child’s band director.
3. Encourage students to practice!

What do Students need to do after the roster is announced?

1. Receive practice parts from their band director.
  - MS Students and all Percussion: your parts are pre-assigned based on director nominations.
  - HS Brass & Woodwind students: prepare the target excerpts for seating auditions for the morning of Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
2. Practice and get ready for a great performance!

Which students do a seating audition?

1. Only High School brass and woodwind students will do a seating audition after checking in at the start of the festival on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
2. All Middle School students and percussionists have had their parts assigned based on director nomination.

When and Where do I check in?
Check-in happens at the same place on both mornings of the festival (February 16 & 17, 2024, 8:00 AM – 8:25 AM). Locations depend on which ensemble a student participates in.

Red & Black Middle School Honor Band (Susan Climer, conductor)
University Hall Lobby (Best Parking Option = East Campus Parking Lot A)
Bishop Middle School Honor Band (Tyler Husosky, conductor)
Hamilton Williams Campus Center Lobby (Best Parking Option = HWCC Parking Lot A, B)
Senior High School Honor Band (John Climer, conductor)
Sanborn Hall Lobby (Best Parking Option = Sanborn Hall Parking Lot D, or street parking)
OWU Honor Band Festival Percussion Ensemble (Chris Lizak, director)
Sanborn Hall Lobby (Best Parking Option = Sanborn Hall Parking Lot D, or street parking)

Where should students warm up and practice after arriving at the festival?

1. MS Students and Percussion Ensemble, after checking in, find your folder and take a seat in your rehearsal room:
  - Red & Black MS Band in Gray Chapel
  - Bishop MS Band in Benes Room B & C
  - Percussion Ensemble in Kohn Room (Sanborn)
2. HS students, after checking in, use any 3rd floor practice room in Sanborn Hall before your seating audition.
  - After your seating audition, please wait in Jemison Auditorium until audition results are announced
  - Senior HS Band in Presser Hall (Sanborn)

When and Where do I pick up my student?

1. Friday, Feb. 16
  7:45 PM (approximate) – All students end their first day at the Festival Host Concert featuring the OWU Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. The Host Concert is open to the public and begins at 7:00 PM in Gray Chapel in University Hall.
2. Saturday, Feb. 17
  Lunch at Noon – All students are picked up for lunch with their parent or teacher after the final rehearsal. Students report back to their assigned seating in Gray Chapel by 1:30 PM. The Grand Finale Concert begins at 2:00 PM and all students are released to parents and teachers after the entire concert concludes by 4:00 PM.

How do I get to Ohio Wesleyan University?
Campus Map and Driving Directions to OWU

What is the concert attire?
Dress in whatever your school wears for concert performances. For some, this may be band uniforms, concert black, or formal attire. If more than one person is attending the festival from your school, please make sure you confer with them about what they’re wearing so there is uniformity for each school.

When and Where are the concerts?
Both concerts are open to the public and held in Gray Chapel in University Hall.

1. Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM
  Host Concert featuring the OWU Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
2. Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  Grand Finale Concert featuring the Red & Black MS Honor Band, the Bishop MS Honor Band, the Festival Percussion Ensemble, and the Senior HS Honor Band.

Where can I find housing while I’m attending the festival?
Out-of-town students, directors, and parent chaperones may arrange housing on their own in Delaware area hotels. Central Ohio residents typically commute. All housing arrangements are the responsibility of the student, parent, and/or music teacher. The following hotels are conveniently located less than 10 minutes from the OWU campus:

Pacer Inn – (740) 362-0050
259 S Sandusky St, Delaware, OH 43015.
Quality Inn & Suites – (740) 363-8869
1251 Columbus Pike, Delaware, OH 43015.
Baymont Inn – (740) 363-3510
1720 Columbus Pike, Delaware, OH 43015.

What are the dining options?

Feb. 16, 2024 – Lunch & Dinner Provided
Lunch and dinner are provided on Friday featuring a buffet for all dietary needs including meat options as well as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
Feb. 17, 2024 – Lunch NOT Included
Saturday lunch is not included and parents or teachers are requested to pick up students at noon from their rehearsal venue to provide lunch.If parents or teachers are unavailable at that time, an extra Saturday lunch for students can be reserved in the parent confirmation form for an extra $15.

A full OWU dining hall buffet lunch and dinner will be provided on Friday of the festival. We offer delicious options for all dietary restrictions including gluten free and vegan needs. On Saturday, students will be dismissed for approximately 2 hours to get lunch with their directors or families prior to the grand finale concert at any of the delightful restaurants in Downtown Delaware just a 5-minute walk from campus. If a family member or teacher is unavailable to escort a student to lunch on Saturday, they may sign up for their student to receive lunch from OWU for an additional charge.

Can I get a note to be excused from school?
Yes. All festival students will receive an official OWU letter describing our event and certifying their participation in the music festival to excuse them from regular classes.

I have other questions…
Please email MusicFestival@owu.edu with your questions, or call the festival director at (740) 368-3721. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!