Selection Procedures

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
​Admission to the Alberta Wind Symphony is made by music teacher/conductor recommendation.  Teachers may select up to 4 nominees for the ensemble per band to be considered for the ensemble. Students will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Location - To ensure that the Alberta Wind Symphony truly represents all sectors of Alberta, the selection committee endeavors to provide an opportunity for equal representation across the province and selects students from both rural and urban areas where possible.
2. Nomination Form and Recommendation Rubric - Information collected on the nomination form and recommendation rubric will be evaluated to determine the members of the ensemble. Assigned scores and ranking provided by the teacher will be considered along with any additional information the teacher can provide regarding the student, their abilities, and their desire to participate will be considered. If a student has participated in the ensemble in a previous year, this will also be considered and students who have not yet had the opportunity play in the Alberta Wind Symphony will be given preference for participation.
3. Instrumentation Needs - Some schools may have more than others represented in the ensemble. While the selection committee will try to make the distribution of participants between schools as even as possible, it is important that the ensemble is balanced. To this end, the committee may select more students from one area to create a well-balanced ensemble.
4. Grade/Age - Preference will be given to those students currently in grade 12 who will not be able to participate because they are aging out of the ensemble, especially if those students have never played in the Alberta Wind Symphony.

The deadline to submit recommendations is May 3, 2019.

For every student recommended to the Alberta Wind Symphony, the Alberta Band Association must receive:
​Instrumentalist Questionnaire
Online Recommendation Form

Recommendation and Nomination Process

1. Teachers/conductors are invited to develop a list of 4 of their strongest band members for recommendation who they feel would benefit most from the honour band experience.
2. Teachers/conductors will distribute the Instrumentalist Questionnaire Forms to the 4 ensemble members selected for recommendation. 
3. Instrumentalists and their parents/guardians will complete the Instrumentalist Questionnaire and return it to their teacher/conductor.
4. Using their knowledge of the ensemble members and the information provided on the Instrumentalist Questionnaires, teachers/conductors complete a Recommendation Rubric (online) for each recommended band member and rank each ensemble member in priority order for acceptance to the Wind Symphony. 
5. Teachers/conductors will forward the completed Instrumentalist Ques­tionnaires to the Alberta Band Association office by scan & email or fax or by uploading into the online Recommendation Rubric form.  Forms can be emailed to info@albertabandassociation.com or faxed to (780) 488-6403
6. The Alberta Band Association Wind Symphony Selection Committee and staff will collate the forms and establish the roster for the band. 
7. Teachers/conductors will be advised as to which of their recommended band members have been accepted into the Alberta Wind Symphony. Acceptance letters and registration forms, and encouraging letters of non-acceptance, will be sent directly to recommended instrumentalists by the Alberta Band Association office.
8. Upon the receipt of registration forms and fees, music will be sent directly to the accepted instrumentalists.