Best of the West Music Festival | Colorado Mesa University

The Best of the West Music Festival is a multi-day event whose past participants have consisted of hundreds of talented high school musicians, nationally renowned guest artists/performers and ensembles, guest composers, and guest conductors. Events include performances by guest artists, multiple PRISM concerts featuring CMU students and faculty, masterclasses, sessions for music teachers seeking graduate/continuing education credit, and a performance of 3 high school select or honor bands culminating from one and a half days of vigorous rehearsals and sectionals. In 2000 this festival began as a one-day event. Since then, thanks to the generous support of Karen Combs and leadership from CMU Director of Bands (Calvin Hofer, retired, & Jonathan Hinkle, current), the event has developed tremendously into a 3-day affair that has received national attention and has commissioned and premiered many works for wind band and other instrumental ensembles, many of which are now being performed around the world.

See below for audition information and excerpts

No nominations. No on-site auditions for seating placement.
Video auditions due November 1, 2025 — submit one Colorado All-State Band audition excerpt.

How to audition:

For Symphonic Band (Honor Bands 1 or 2):
- Play one excerpt from the 2025–2026 CO All-State Band audition materials (scroll down once there). No scales required. Percussionists: play all 3 excerpts (snare, mallet, timpani).
- Excerpt does NOT need to be performed at suggested tempo. You do NOT need to perform the entire excerpt. Do the best you can!
- Note - Ask you band director, private instructors, or friends for help with finding books containing these All-State Audition excerpts. You can also search for and borrow many of the methods books used for All-State Band audition excerpts on Archieve.org. This is a free online library that hosts millions of public-domain and out-of-print books — including many standard band and instrument method books. Visit 📚 archive.org/details/texts to search for these.
For Brass Band (new ensemble: 4–5 saxes, 3–4 trumpets, 3–5 low brass, keyboard, guitar, drumset):
- Play one excerpt from the 2025–2026 CO All-State Jazz Band audition materials (scroll down once there).
- Excerpt does NOT need to be performed at suggested tempo. You do NOT need to perform the entire excerpt. Do the best you can!
- You may audition for both symphonic and brass band, but will only be placed in one (based on your strongest video).

Recording tips:

Use your phone. Find a quiet space. Make sure the viewer can see all of you (not behind a stand).
You don't need to play at suggested tempo, use a metronome, or perform the entire excerpt. Sending something is better than nothing.
Upload your recording to YouTube as an unlisted video.
Submit the link of your YouTube video via this form.

Timeline:

Nov. 1 — Video auditions due
Nov. 8 — Placement notifications sent (including alternates)
Nov. 15 — Deadline to confirm attendance + payment ($35/student, includes Friday dinner and entrance to concerts). Open spots go to alternates.
Nov. 20 — Alternates must confirm by this date

Bonus: Your BOTW audition preparations and feedback may help if you're also auditioning for CO All-State Band (due November 21).

Schedule: December 4-6, 2025

*Friday night dinner, all performances, masterclasses, sessions and additional break snacks included in participant registration dues.

Thursday

Open rehearsal with CMU Wind Symphony and guest artist/s - non-ticketed event 3pm
Thursday

Guest artist/s featured performance *ticketed for non-festival participants 7:30pm
Friday

Welcome, rehearsals, sectionals, sessions, & dinner 8:30am-7pm • Participant check-in & welcome, honor bands rehearsals with guest conductors, sectionals with CMU faculty, sessions for HS directors, dinner in CMU “Caf” (included)
Friday

PRISM Concert (open to public*) • PRISM Concert in Asteria Theater featuring CMU faculty, students, guest artist/s, and instrumental ensembles *ticketed for non-festival participants
Saturday

Masterclasses, rehearsals, sessions 8:30am-2:30pm • • Masterclasses led by guest artist/s and CMU faculty, honor bands rehearsals with guest conductors, sessions for HS directors
Saturday

Honor bands performance (open to public*) 3pm • • All honor bands perform & closing encore by guest artist/s *non-ticketed event