Each year, the University of Northern Colorado hosts the Western States Honor Orchestra Festival here in Greeley, Colorado—a celebration of orchestral and solo string playing for advanced high school musicians.

We form a chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra from the invited string players; wind and percussion musicians from the award-winning UNC Symphony Orchestra join these ensembles. Two days of intense rehearsal follow, interspersed with workshops, coachings, and masterclasses by UNC string faculty, as well as a master class by a celebrated guest artist, who also performs on the opening concert Thursday evening and the final concert on Saturday.

We invite advanced high school string players to send audition audio files for this festival. We hope that you will consider joining this wonderful music event that is sure to give inspiration to you for the entire year.

We ask that each director nominate his/her high school string players that he/she feels would most benefit from participation in the festival. Students that are homeschooled are also welcome to audition.