Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra Festival

Description of Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra Festival:

Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra Festival began in 1992 as a way to give younger students an all-state level experience. The Festival is sponsored by the Iowa String Teacher's Association. It is a one-day event, held in the same complex and at the same time as the Iowa All-State Music Festival and the Iowa Music Educators Association state convention. There are two orchestras of equal ability in the festival, each with about 90 participants. The groups are composed mainly of 8th and 9th graders, with a few advanced 7th and 6th graders. The application process requires that the violins be at least in Book 5 of Suzuki or equivalent, violas in Book 4 of Suzuki or equivalent, celli in Book 5 of Suzuki or equivalent, and basses comfortable up through 5th position. It is an expectation of the festival that the student is enrolled in their school's orchestra and that teacher needs to be a member of the Iowa String Teacher's Association.