MIHS wind ensemble selected to perform at national festival

Published 4:30 pm Friday, August 7, 2026

Special to the Reporter

The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) wind ensemble has been selected to perform at the 2027 Music for All National Concert Band Festival, taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from March 31 through April 4, 2027.

This festival represents one of the highest honors available to high school concert bands in the United States.

This year, 65 of the nation’s finest middle school and high school concert bands from 16 states were selected through a highly competitive blind audition process, ensuring that invitations are based solely on musical excellence. Ensembles submit recordings that are evaluated by panels of nationally recognized music educators without knowledge of the performing group’s identity.

The MIHS wind ensemble’s invitation was earned through recordings from its March 2026 performances, making this honor a testament to the exceptional musicianship, discipline and dedication demonstrated by last year’s ensemble members and directors.

Unlike traditional competitions, the 34th Annual Music for All National Concert Band Festival is a celebration of artistic achievement, collaboration and learning. Over the coming months, the MIHS wind ensemble will engage with nationally renowned conductors, composers and music educators before presenting a 45-minute performance at Clowes Hall on the campus of Butler University.

“Being selected to perform at the National Concert Band Festival is an extraordinary honor for our program and marks the first time in Mercer Island High School history that one of our concert ensembles has earned this prestigious distinction,” said Parker Bixby, director of bands at MIHS. “The 2025-2026 wind ensemble set an incredibly high standard through their outstanding performances, and our 2026-2027 musicians now have the opportunity to share that legacy on one of the most prestigious stages in music education. We couldn’t be more excited.”