Saskatchewan Junior Honour Groups
The Junior North Saskatchewan Honour Band(Grades 8-9) provides an enriched music experience for exceptional band students in Saskatchewan. It is an initiative by the SMEA and is divided into two programs: Northern and Southern Junior Honour Band Programs. The program will alternate between the North and the South and coincide with the SMEA fall conference and the Senior Provincial Honour Groups. This year, 2022 being the North Junior Honour Band. Students are assigned who live north of Davidson. Students will enjoy working with a guest conductor over three days and experiencing sectionals and full band rehearsals. The format will be a Thursday afternoon registration and rehearsals in Saskatoon (location TBA), and all day Friday, ending with a grand finale public performance with the Provincial Honour Groups at Lakeview Church 15 RR5 #510, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J8. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to network and develop an appreciation for an audience while receiving high-level instruction from our guest conductor and sectional clinicians. Click here for more details!
Student Eligibility
Educators are encouraged to recommend students by no later than June (10th) who are motivated and looking to achieve a new level of musical excellence. Each band program area may recommend up to five (5) students for participation and a maximum of one (1) student per instrument. Although the committee will make every effort to accommodate all students recommended, due to space constraints and in consideration for balanced instrumentation, all students may not be selected to participate. A recall will be issued if additional participants on certain instruments are required. The Junior North Honour Band Committee will be striving for a 65-piece band with balanced instrumentation.
Recommending Students
Educators will distribute a letter of recommendation (see sample) to their prospective students. The letter will provide instructions for parents to complete the registration online if they are interested in their child applying. Participants will be notified by the start of the September school year whether or not they have been accepted, music will be distributed in late September, and the event will be held in early November.
Student Registration
PARENTS: if your child has received a letter encouraging them to participate in the Junior Honour Band program, please complete the online application form below. A $100 registration fee is required with your application. If your child is not selected for the program, you will receive a full refund. Thank you for allowing your child to participate and for encouraging music education development opportunities for your child.
Meet the Conductor
Jennifer Switzer has been teaching in the Swift Current area for the last 20 years and currently is the director of the Chinook School Division's Prairie West Bands. She is a University of Saskatchewan graduate with Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees with great distinction. Jennifer has been a guest conductor and clinician at several SBA Summer Band Camps, the South and North Junior Honour Bands and the RCSD Select Band. She has worked as an adjudicator and has coordinated a variety of musical activities in Saskatchewan. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Music Educators Association Outstanding Achievement Award. She currently lives in Swift Current with her husband, Glenn and her kids, Ty and Jodi.
