Austin Soundwaves Festival Series

The Austin Soundwaves Festival Series provides an opportunity for students and school programs to engage with their musical community through an All-Region band and orchestra showcase, solo/ensemble festival, and large ensemble festival. This program was launched as the Austin Music Education Coalition in 2016 as a way for teachers at smaller schools to share with and learn from each other.

The Festival Series events for 2023-24 included the All-Region Festival and Clinic, Solo and Ensemble Festival, and Large Ensemble Festival.

LARGE ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 13

KIPP Austin Collegiate
8004 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX
Times scheduled between 9am-3pm

The Austin Soundwaves Large Ensemble Festival is a performance opportunity for music ensembles to perform and compete with schools from across the region. Three distinguished judges will provide ensembles with ratings and/or feedback for their performances depending on which track directors choose to sign up for: Contest or Festival.

“Contest” is for established ensembles looking for a more competitive experience, while “Festival” is for developing or younger ensembles. All ability ranges and grade levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Registration deadline: April 5th

SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
Saturday, March 2

Austin Achieve High School
7424 E Hwy 290

Saturday, March 2nd
Between 9am and 2pm

Register for the Austin Soundwaves Solo & Ensemble Festival is a performance opportunity for students of all ability levels. Students perform a prepared piece alone or with a small ensemble for a guest adjudicator for feedback and a rating.

Students who receive Division I or II ratings will receive a medal; additionally, judges will select Outstanding Performers from each room for an additional trophy. This is a great opportunity for our students to get feedback from professionals and learn how to present themselves in a strong, confident manner.

For questions, please reach out to education director Mary Speight at mary@austinsoundwaves.org.

ALL-REGION AUDITIONS
Saturday, December 2

Registration is now open

Audition Etude Playlist (opens in a new window)

Entry Deadline: November 3, 2023
Entry Fee: $10 per entry to be sent to
Austin Soundwaves by November 27
Late Entry Fee: $20

All registrations must be completed by November 27.

Austin Achieve High School
7424 E Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78723

The Austin Soundwaves All-Region Festival & Showcase offers band and orchestra students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to audition for an ensemble made up of music students from across Central Texas. Participating students must be enrolled in a school music program unless homeschooled or in an alternative school that does not offer music education. 

Our goal is to create a healthy competition experience that provides students an opportunity to play in an ensemble with students from varied music learning experiences.

View All-Region audition results >

ALL-REGION CLINIC AND FESTIVAL
Friday and Saturday, January 19 and 20

Huston-Tillotson University
900 Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702

Students selected from our All-Region auditions have the opportunity to play in an ensemble with students from varied music learning experiences. Through our selection of repertoire and guest clinicians, our focus is to highlight music from BIPOC composers and introduce styles of music often excluded from school band and orchestra competitions.

Check out photos from our most January 2023 Clinic and Showcase by clicking here!