TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences School of Music will present the 19th annual Alabama High School Honor Band Festival Feb. 5-8. The festival was developed to recognize the achievements of exceptional high school musicians.

The Honor Band Festival brings in a large number of students from all over the United States. This year, there were more than 1,000 applicants who competed for a spot in the Honor Band Festival with only 400 selected.

Students chosen will participate in three different bands: the Festival Wind Ensemble, conducted by Gerald L.Welker, director of the Alabama Wind Ensemble; the Crimson Band conducted by University of Massachusetts assistant minuteman bands director Michael Klesh; and the White Band, conducted by Kathy McCullough, director of bands at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.

The first event of the festival will take place Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Moody Music Building and will feature the Spectrum Concert. This large-scale event will include performances by a number of UA ensembles and will include more than 400 students.

The Alabama Wind Ensemble, conducted by Welker, will perform in the Concert Hall on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

The three student honor bands will close the festival on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. with a performance in the Concert Hall.

All events are open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

For more information on the Alabama Honor Band Festival events, contact Alexis Z. Clark in the UA School of Music at 205/348-7111, 205/348-1477.