The CSC Music Department will host the 54th High Plains Band and Choir Honor Festival on February 2-3, 2026. Eligible participants are high school students who have an interest in music, would like to further their musical knowledge, and want to have FUN making music with other students who share the same interest.

Students selected for the High Plains Band and Choir Music Festival participate in two days of rehearsals and activities culminating in a concert at the end of the second day at Chadron State College located in beautiful northwest Nebraska. Ensembles include an Honor Band, Honor Choir (SATB), and a guitar ensemble.

The final concert will begin at 5:00pm MST on Tuesday, February 3 in Memorial Hall Auditorium.

High Plains Festival Schedule Information

Schedules for all the directors and participants will be provided when you check-in to the Festival. 

We will post an overview of the schedule here when it is finalized.

Concert Livestream Links

Livestream links will be posted here a few days before the performances.

High Plains Festival Rosters

Festival rosters will be posted here once all the participants are selected and notified.

High Plains Honor Choir Practice Audio Files

Choir practice files are provided so that you can practice your part and sing along with an audio track.

Choir Practice Files will be posted after the audition process is completed.

Registration Forms

Any high school age musician wishing to audition for the High Plains Festival will complete an online registration form and upload an audio file, a video file, or a YouTube link at the time they register.

***CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE HIGH PLAINS HONOR BAND AND CHOIR FESTIVAL*** REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Audition Submission Fee

There is a fee of $20 for each person who submits an audition. 

With our new registration system, we will be able to invoice high schools for the audition fee. Directors do not need to send in a list of the students who submitted auditions. We will include the list of students who submitted auditions with the invoice.

Please submit payments by school check or purchase order only.  Make checks payable to: CSC Department of Music. 

Mail the payments to: Music Office Administrator, Memorial Hall, Chadron State College, 1000 Main St. Chadron, NE 69337.

Audition deadlines for this year's High Plains Festival is Friday, November 14, 2025.

Audition Materials

Audition materials will be posted shortly after Labor Day, September 1, 2025.

Guitar and Electric Bass Registration

The High Plains Guitar and Electric Bass Ensemble is open to all high school students.  There is no audition required to register for Guitar or Electric Bass.

Students are encouraged to submit performance videos of a song or excerpt that they are currently working on, but it is not required for registrations. The videos will be used to help select appropriate music and lessons for the festival.

***CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE HIGH PLAINS HONOR BAND AND CHOIR FESTIVAL*** REGISTRATION IS CLOSED***