UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
HONOR BAND
April 1-3, 2010

The 2010 University of Florida Honor Band Festival will be held April 1 – 3, 2010, on the campus of the University of Florida.

The Festival will consist of two bands, one Wind Symphony and one Symphonic Band, which will be conducted by our special guest conductors and clinicians, Dr. Tom Leslie, and Shawn Barat. Outstanding high school musicians, grades 9-12 will be selected to participate based on their application and their director's recommendation. You may either download the 2-page application from this website or get one from your band director. All Honor Band forms are available by clicking the following link, Honor Band Forms. Once you have completed the first page of the nomination/application, return it to your band director so he/she may complete the recommendation portion. Your band director is responsible for returning the nomination forms. The deadline for application submission and consideration is, February 1, 2010. Completed nomination forms can be sent by mail by your band director, or faxed to the following:

University of Florida Honor Band Festival
School of Music/Bands
P.O. Box 117901
Gainesville, FL 32611-7901
Fax: 352-392-3716

Thomas G Leslie - Conductor of the UNLV Wind Orchestra
As Director of Bands, and Professor of Conducting, Thomas Leslie has earned recognition for high quality performances of the UNLV Bands. During his tenure at UNLV, his bands have received critical acclaim from members of the international music world. Such notables include composer Malcolm Arnold, United States Marine Band Conductor Emeritus Colonel John Bourgeois, (Ret.), United States Navy Band Conductor Commander John Pastin (Ret.), Dr. Harry Begian, Director Emeritus, University of Illinois, Grammy Award winning recording artists Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip, Will Kennedy and Russell Ferrante.

Recognized for a fresh, interpretative style among collegiate wind orchestras, Thomas Leslie and the UNLV Wind Orchestra continue to excel in their commitment to commission new works by the next generation of the world’s finest young composers. As an adjudicator and conductor in 40 states nationally, and the District of Columbia, Professor Leslie has also been invited to conduct performances and clinics internationally in Australia, Ireland, Japan, England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Canada. Under his direction, the UNLV Wind Orchestra has appeared as an invited performing group at the College Band Directors National Association Conference in March 1994, the Music Educators National Conference Biennial Convention in April 1998, the American Bandmasters Association National Convention in March 2001, and numerous state music educator conferences. The UNLV Wind Orchestra performed as the featured ensemble at the Hokkaido Band Association Clinic in Sapporo, Japan, in May 2002, and most recently returned from a multiple performance tour at the La Croix Valmer International Music Festival in St, Tropez, France in June 2005. Professor Leslie is the founder and Musical Director for the new Las Vegas Youth Wind Orchestra, an honor ensemble comprised of Las Vegas’ most accomplished wind and percussion musicians. The UNLV College of Fine Arts awarded Professor Leslie the CFA Teacher of the Year Award in 2006.

Thomas Leslie received degrees in Music Education from The University of Iowa and Indiana State University. In March 2008, Professor Leslie was elected to the Board of Directors of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association following his original induction to membership in 1997. In March 2001 he hosted the National Convention of this very distinguished group. He continues to be a long-standing member of both the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, has served as Western Division Chair for the National Band Association and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Shawn L Barat – Director of Bands, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
A native of Florida, Shawn Barat received the degrees Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida. In May of 2006, Mr. Barat was appointed Director of Bands at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. His teaching responsibilities include the direction of the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Chamber Winds, as well as teaching Advanced Placement Music Theory. Under Mr. Barat’s direction, all ensembles have consistently received Superior ratings at district and state level events. In addition, the DA Wind Symphony has performed at the 2008 University of South Carolina Band Clinic, and the 2008 MENC National Biennial In-Service Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the 2009 Florida Music Educators’ Association Clinic-Conference in Tampa.

Mr. Barat continues to be an active clinician, adjudicator and involved member of several music organizations. He has served as guest conductor for All-County Bands and summer music camps. He is currently the chairman for the Florida Bandmasters Association District 17. Mr. Barat’s professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference, Florida Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Mr. Barat was elected to the Omega Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in the spring of 2006. He resides in the Arlington area of Jacksonville with his wife, Alison, and their two year-old daughter Emerson.