Honors Orchestra Festival

UIC HONORS ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL

We are hosting the Inaugural UIC Honors Orchestra Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at UIC Student Center East.

We are excited to host the inaugural UIC Honors Orchestra Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2025. During this one-day event, high school string students from Chicagoland and beyond will make music in a string orchestra, study in sectionals with UIC artist string faculty, enjoy performances by UIC students, and perform side-by-side with the UIC Orchestra.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION:

Detailed information about the festival including the full itinerary, locations, and expectations can be found in the general information packet:

FOR ACCEPTED STUDENTS:

Congratulations on your acceptance into the UIC Honors Orchestra Festival!

Download and carefully read the GENERAL INFORMATION and the REQUIRED FORMS. All three of the REQUIRED FORMS in the packet (Participation Waiver, Medical Release, and Photography Consent) should be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. Completed forms can be returned via email to abell08@uic.edu prior to the festival or submitted at the registration table on the first day of the festival.

FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS:

We welcome nominations of any student that you feel would receive musical benefit both for themselves and for your programs from this opportunity. The deadline to nominate your students is Friday, September 26, 2025; late nominations will be considered as space permits.

Nominate your students here:

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

Your student’s school orchestra director submits nominations for the UIC Honors Orchestra Festival. If your student is interested, please contact their orchestra director. Acceptance of students via email will begin after the music educator nomination period closes on September 26. Late nominations will be considered as space permits.

Upon acceptance, you will receive an email will instructions for how to accept and register your student for the honors orchestra. The festival fee is $50 per student. To prepare the materials for your student’s participation, we ask that accepted students’ registration be completed as soon as possible but no later than October 20. For more detailed information about the festival, please download the GENERAL INFORMATION document. If you will be attending the festival with your student, we encourage you to take some time to see our campus and take advantage of everything Chicago has to offer during your stay.

If you have questions or need assistance regarding the UIC Honors Orchestra Festival, contact the Timothy Fawkes at tfawkes@uic.edu.