High School Band
2026-27
Brian Silvey
Brian A. Silvey (BME, Morehead State University; MME, Wichita State University; PhD, University of Texas-Austin) is Director of Bands, Professor of Music Education, and Interim Director of the School of Music at the University of Missouri. At MU, he teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses, supervises music education doctoral students, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and provides oversight to the entire band program. Dr. Silvey has presented music education research and teacher preparation clinics at state, national, and international venues. Recent presentations have included the Clifford K. Madsen Symposium on Research in Music Behavior in Tallahassee, Florida (2026), Society for Music Teacher Education in Indianapolis, Indiana (2025), National Association for Music Education Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (2024), and International Society for Music Education conference in Helsinki, Finland (2024).
He is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Journal of Band Research, Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, Research and Issues in Music Education, the Choral Conductor's Companion, and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. A co-authored book chapter on conducting with Dr. Steven Morrison from Northwestern University was published in the Oxford Handbook of Music Performance. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Music Education, College Band Directors National Association Research Journal, and the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education. Dr. Silvey is the Research Grant Chair for the American Bandmasters Association and serves on the National Association for Music Education Society for Research in Music Education Executive Committee. He previously served as Editor of the National Association for Music Education journal, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Music Education and as Editor of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education.
His research interests include conducting expressivity and effectiveness, instrumental conducting pedagogy, intonation strategies, and preservice teacher preparation. While at the University of Missouri, Dr. Silvey has received the Writing Intensive Teaching Excellence Award, the School of Music Faculty Excellence Award, the Gold Chalk Award for Teaching Excellence, and the William T. Kemper Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest teaching award given to faculty at MU. He was appointed as a Fulbright Scholar by the United States government to conduct research and teach at the University of Melbourne in Australia during the Spring 2025 semester. In Fall 2025, Dr. Silvey was awarded the rank of Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor, the highest and most prestigious academic rank the University of Missouri System Board of Curators awards. He is an experienced events adjudicator, guest conductor, and guest clinician, having worked with bands across the United States.
He is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Journal of Band Research, Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, Research and Issues in Music Education, the Choral Conductor's Companion, and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. A co-authored book chapter on conducting with Dr. Steven Morrison from Northwestern University was published in the Oxford Handbook of Music Performance. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Music Education, College Band Directors National Association Research Journal, and the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education. Dr. Silvey is the Research Grant Chair for the American Bandmasters Association and serves on the National Association for Music Education Society for Research in Music Education Executive Committee. He previously served as Editor of the National Association for Music Education journal, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Music Education and as Editor of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education.
His research interests include conducting expressivity and effectiveness, instrumental conducting pedagogy, intonation strategies, and preservice teacher preparation. While at the University of Missouri, Dr. Silvey has received the Writing Intensive Teaching Excellence Award, the School of Music Faculty Excellence Award, the Gold Chalk Award for Teaching Excellence, and the William T. Kemper Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest teaching award given to faculty at MU. He was appointed as a Fulbright Scholar by the United States government to conduct research and teach at the University of Melbourne in Australia during the Spring 2025 semester. In Fall 2025, Dr. Silvey was awarded the rank of Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor, the highest and most prestigious academic rank the University of Missouri System Board of Curators awards. He is an experienced events adjudicator, guest conductor, and guest clinician, having worked with bands across the United States.
Melissa Sawyer
Melissa Sawyer is Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Kansas, where she teaches music education courses, conducts the Symphonic Band, and co-conducts the KU Wind Symphony. She also assists with the Marching Jayhawks, serves as the School of Music Scholarship Coordinator, and is Assistant Director of Midwestern Music Camp at the University of Kansas. In addition, Dr. Sawyer is a Drum Major Instructor at the Texoma Marching Arts Leadership Academy, where she works with student leaders to develop conducting technique, rehearsal efficiency, and effective ensemble leadership.
A native of Edmond, Oklahoma, Dr. Sawyer has taught middle school, high school, and collegiate band programs in Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Kansas. Her previous collegiate appointments include serving as Assistant Director of Bands at New Mexico State University, where she was Assistant Director of the Pride of New Mexico Marching Band and the Symphonic Band. She later served as Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Benedictine College, where she directed all athletic bands, conducted the Symphonic Band, and served as Music Education Coordinator.
Dr. Sawyer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her professional interests include wind band repertoire, rehearsal pedagogy, leadership development, and creating inclusive, high-impact learning environments that support student growth and musical excellence.
A native of Edmond, Oklahoma, Dr. Sawyer has taught middle school, high school, and collegiate band programs in Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Kansas. Her previous collegiate appointments include serving as Assistant Director of Bands at New Mexico State University, where she was Assistant Director of the Pride of New Mexico Marching Band and the Symphonic Band. She later served as Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Benedictine College, where she directed all athletic bands, conducted the Symphonic Band, and served as Music Education Coordinator.
Dr. Sawyer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her professional interests include wind band repertoire, rehearsal pedagogy, leadership development, and creating inclusive, high-impact learning environments that support student growth and musical excellence.
Aug. 22 - Kick-off meeting @ Andover-Central HS
Oct. 13 - Audition Registration Deadline - $10 per audition
Oct. 25 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #1 - $35 per audition
Nov. 5 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #2 - $60 per audition
Nov. 7 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #3 - $100 per audition
Nov. 7 - Auditions @ Goddard HS
Dec. 5 - Clinics & Concerts @ Maize HS - $15 participation fee per selected student
Participation Eligibility Requirements
For a student to be eligible to audition for the SCKMEA Festival Band and Orchestra Winds/Percussion membership:
- The student's director must submit an online audition form and a printed form with payment to the SCKMEA Executive Director for each student auditioning. This form must be submitted by the AUDITION FORM DEADLINE established by SCKMEA.
- The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school. The student must be enrolled in the instrumental ensemble at their high school to be eligible to audition for the SCKMEA Honor Bands/Orchestra at the time of auditions and the performance.
Auditions are registered in the KMEA Members portal.
Fees
Use the SCKMEA Invoice Generator to create your fee invoices. An invoice print-out must be included with each payment. Make checks payable to South Central KMEA.
Audition Music Requirements
SCKMEA will use the KMEA All-State Winds and Percussion Audition Excerpts. Students will perform:
- A one-octave major scale. Each scale is non-transposed (except Euphonium TC). Quarter Note MM=60, slurred up and tongued down. Memorization is not required.
USE THIS SCALE SHEET FOR THE APPROPRIATE OCTAVE
The octave indicated on this sheet is what is expected to be performed at SCKMEA Live Auditions. - A full-range chromatic scale slurred up and tongued down, as shown on the KMEA Scale Sheet. Quarter Note MM= 60. Memorization is not required.
- Sections of the required etudes/solos.
- Sight-Reading
Audition Excerpts will be taken from the KMEA All-State material (linked above). SCKMEA will observe all errata changes found in that page for district auditions.
Excerpt Reductions
TBA
Audition Process
Auditions will happen in two sessions: a morning session and an afternoon session. Rather than being assigned a specific time, students will be assigned a session. Students will be required to check-in for their assigned session during a specific registration time, then proceed to their audition room. Students that do not check in during the registration time for their session will be considered a cancellation. After registration, audition rooms will be a "first-come, first-serve" for auditions.
Percussion Auditions
Students auditioning for percussion MUST audition in all areas as indicated by the audition material. An audition which does not include all areas will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for selection to SCKMEA Honor Groups.
Audition Time Requests
To the extent the schedule allows, accommodations can be made for students who need special consideration for their scheduled audition time. Directors must note all such requests when entering students online. Personal preferences for directors or students cannot be accommodated and should not be entered.
Director Participation in the Audition Process
Directors are responsible for relaying audition time and location information to their students. Directors must arrive no later than (8:00 AM) the day of the auditions. A judge meeting will be held at 8:15 AM to discuss the audition process, any further reductions being made to the audition materials and to ensure the auditions start on time. Directors with students participating in the Middle Level Honor Band will be able to drop their students off prior to the judge meeting.
Note - Directors with students participating in the Middle School Honor Band as well as HS Honor Ensemble auditions are NOT excused from participating in judging.
Judging Policy Change Update
In the summer prior to the 2021-22 school year, the SCKMEA Board approved a policy change which requires any school that registers students for a HS Wind/Percussion entry to provide 1 judge per 15 student registrations. Any school that registers more than 15 band entries is required to send at least one (1) qualified judge and one (1) additional adult to assist with audition day (to serve as a monitor or runner) for every 15 entries. All judges/helpers must be present for the entire day of the event if they registered students. Directors agree to participate in judging when they register students, regardless if their student cancels after they have been registered into the KMEA system. SCKMEA will excuse directors from judging without penalty only if they are directly involved in the operations of SCKMEA events (Board members, area chairs and assistants) on the day of auditions. Directors that do not secure a replacement judge or adult helper and refuse to participate in judging will be assessed a $100 non-participation penalty fee per judge/helper to be paid with their entry fees.
SCKMEA Fee Policy
At the January 30, 2016 board meeting, the SCKMEA Executive Board voted to approve the following policy. Late entries for SCKMEA auditions for District Jazz Band, Band, and Orchestra will be assessed a $25 late fee for each entry.
All audition fees and participation fees for all SCKMEA honor groups (Elementary Choir, MS Band and Choir, HS Jazz Band, Band, Orchestra, Choir) must be paid by the day of the event. If fees are not paid on-time, the audition and participation fees will be doubled.
All audition, participation, and late fees must be paid by March 1. If fees remain unpaid after March 1, students from that school's program (band, choir, jazz or orchestra) will not be eligible to participate in SCKMEA District events the following school year.
At the January 30, 2016 board meeting, the SCKMEA Executive Board voted to approve the following policy. Late entries for SCKMEA auditions for District Jazz Band, Band, and Orchestra will be assessed a $25 late fee for each entry.
All audition fees and participation fees for all SCKMEA honor groups (Elementary Choir, MS Band and Choir, HS Jazz Band, Band, Orchestra, Choir) must be paid by the day of the event. If fees are not paid on-time, the audition and participation fees will be doubled.
All audition, participation, and late fees must be paid by March 1. If fees remain unpaid after March 1, students from that school's program (band, choir, jazz or orchestra) will not be eligible to participate in SCKMEA District events the following school year.