Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Please feel free to contact the Alberta Band Association office
by phone 780-800-0482
toll free 1-877-687-4239
by email [email protected]
Q: Is the ABA accepting nominations for 2026 Junior Honour Band?
A: Nominations open November 3 and the Deadline for recommendations is December 1, 2025
Q: Where can I get the Instrumentalist Questionnaire?
A: Right here: SAJHB Online Questionnaire Form
NAJHB Online Questionnaire Form
Q: Where can I find the online recommendation form?
A: Right here: SAJHB Online Recommendation Form
NAJHB Online Recommendation Form
Q: What age must an instrumentalist be to participate in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Instrumentalists must be between the ages of 12 and 15 to participate, with at least a year of experience on their instrument.
Q: What grade must an instrumentalist be enrolled in to participate in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Instrumentalists must be in grades 7-9 at the time of participation and able to play concert band repertoire at the Grade 3 level.
Q: Can teachers recommend a current grade 7 student for participation in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Yes, as long as that student has at least one year of experience on their instrument and can play music at the Grade 3 level.
Q: Where & when will the rehearsals take place?
A: -The Southern Junior Honour Band will be held in Calgary, February 12-14, 2026
-The Northern Junior Honour Band will be held in Edmonton February 26-28, 2026
Q: Why does the recommendation process include a recommendation rubric?
A: The selection panel needs to be able to assess the abilities of each of recommended instrumentalist. We rely on the accurate assessment of the recommending teacher/conductor to select the best candidates.
Q: Why does the recommendation process include a ranking?
A: We try to accept the top ranked student from each recommending school to ensure geographic representation. In cases where that might not be
possible, we look to the recommendation rubric scores to determine which candidate will be accepted to the Junior Honour Bands.
Q: Do any students get priority placement in the ensemble?
A: Yes. Current grade 9 students and students who have never participated in the ensemble will receive priority placement.
Q: What is the fee to participate
A: The participation fee for both the Southern and Northern Ensembles is $225
by phone 780-800-0482
toll free 1-877-687-4239
by email [email protected]
Q: Is the ABA accepting nominations for 2026 Junior Honour Band?
A: Nominations open November 3 and the Deadline for recommendations is December 1, 2025
Q: Where can I get the Instrumentalist Questionnaire?
A: Right here: SAJHB Online Questionnaire Form
NAJHB Online Questionnaire Form
Q: Where can I find the online recommendation form?
A: Right here: SAJHB Online Recommendation Form
NAJHB Online Recommendation Form
Q: What age must an instrumentalist be to participate in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Instrumentalists must be between the ages of 12 and 15 to participate, with at least a year of experience on their instrument.
Q: What grade must an instrumentalist be enrolled in to participate in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Instrumentalists must be in grades 7-9 at the time of participation and able to play concert band repertoire at the Grade 3 level.
Q: Can teachers recommend a current grade 7 student for participation in the Junior Honour Band?
A: Yes, as long as that student has at least one year of experience on their instrument and can play music at the Grade 3 level.
Q: Where & when will the rehearsals take place?
A: -The Southern Junior Honour Band will be held in Calgary, February 12-14, 2026
-The Northern Junior Honour Band will be held in Edmonton February 26-28, 2026
Q: Why does the recommendation process include a recommendation rubric?
A: The selection panel needs to be able to assess the abilities of each of recommended instrumentalist. We rely on the accurate assessment of the recommending teacher/conductor to select the best candidates.
Q: Why does the recommendation process include a ranking?
A: We try to accept the top ranked student from each recommending school to ensure geographic representation. In cases where that might not be
possible, we look to the recommendation rubric scores to determine which candidate will be accepted to the Junior Honour Bands.
Q: Do any students get priority placement in the ensemble?
A: Yes. Current grade 9 students and students who have never participated in the ensemble will receive priority placement.
Q: What is the fee to participate
A: The participation fee for both the Southern and Northern Ensembles is $225