Director of Bands Dr. Mark Heidel
Dear Hawkeyes,
The spring semester is off to a fast but great start on campus. We just hosted 220 talented high school students for the annual Iowa Honor Band. The students came from 49 different schools representing the states of Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota. UI alumnus Dr. Timothy Mahr was our featured guest conductor, and UI Professor of Bassoon, Benjamin Coelho was this year’s guest artist. 
A collage of images, including the University of Iowa and Iowa State logos, with photos of concert bands at Iowa and ISU, and an image of Orchestra Hall in Chicago
The Hawkeye Honors Music Festival comprised masterclasses, full ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, several sessions for the directors, a showcase concert featuring the UI Concert Band and Symphony Band, and concerts by the Welch and Voxman Honor Bands. It was a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to hosting the students and their directors each year. 
The Symphony Band is busy preparing for its upcoming collaborative concert with the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble, which will be in Orchestra Hall in Chicago at 7:30PM on Friday, March 28.  A pre-concert reception is being held from 6:00-7:15PM in Symphony Center. Contact Amanda Stout for information about the reception.
Details about the concert including ticket information can be found on the Orchestra Hall website at cso.org. It would be wonderful to have a large audience of supportive Hawkeyes cheering on our students in this special performance.
If you aren't able to join us in Chicago, there will be a Preview Concert in the Voxman Music Building at 7:30PM on Wednesday, March 26. 
 
Donovan Mann
Donovan Mann
Noelle Schnoebelen
Noelle Schnoebelen
 
Of course, the Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Eric W. Bush, and the University Band led by DMA conducting student Cory Schmitt are busy rehearsing their programs for performances on April 28 and April 21 respectively. Noelle Schnoebelen from Iowa City and runner-up winner of the Iowa Bands Young Artist Competition, will be featured as flute soloist with the Concert Band on Monday, April 28. She will perform the first movement of La Flute de Pan, composed by Jules Mouquet.
The final concert of the year is scheduled for 7:30PM on May 1, and it will feature the Symphony Band. The program will include a performance of Caroline Shaw's stunning "Is a Rose" by UI voice faculty member, Dr. Elise DesChamps. Donovan Mann from Farmington, Minnesota will also be featured as soloist on euphonium. Donovan won the inaugural Iowa Bands Young Artist Competition, and he will perform Philip Sparke's Fantasy for Euphonium.
The Symphony Band is pleased to also collaborate with the Perry High School Concert Band under the direction of UI alumnus Blaine Schmidt. In addition to conducting the Perry H.S. band in performance, Mr. Schmidt will guest conduct the Symphony Band on a performance of Michele Fernandez's "A Mere Moment," which was commissioned following the tragic shooting at Perry High School on January 4, 2024. 
The students and faculty are always proud to represent the University of Iowa, and I hope you will join us for one or more of these performances.
 
Go Hawks!
 
Richard Mark Heidel
Director of Bands