NYC Harmony Honors Festival | March 20, 2026

High School Band & Orchestra

Harmony Honors Festival

New York City

March 20, 2026

Teaching Artists:Catherine Birke, Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant,

Evan Harger, and Greg Bimm

Featured Conducting Artist: Kevin Noe

Composer-in-Residence: Arturo Rodriguez

Leadership Expert: Fran Kick

REQUEST INFO

Perform and Learn in Magnificent

New York City

Friday, March 20, 2026

New York City, New York

Known far and wide as the "City That Never Sleeps," New York City represents a vibrant tapestry of diverse cultures, iconic landmarks, and a thriving performing arts scene. From the legendary Broadway stages to the historic Carnegie Hall, it's a city where artistic dreams are realized against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers and cultural richness.

Harmony Honors Festival

Join us at the inaugural Harmony Honors Festival (H2 Festival), a groundbreaking event designed exclusively for instrumental ensembles and focusing on musical growth, innovation, and excellence. This unique, non-competitive festival encourages collaborative learning and celebrates the musical journey without the pressure of ratings or rankings.

Directors have the freedom to select their own repertoire, fostering creativity and innovation. Participants will benefit from workshops led by esteemed professionals like conductor Kevin Noe, composer Arturo Rodriguez, and leadership expert Fran Kick. Immerse yourself in a day filled with music, collaboration, and transformative experiences at the Harmony Honors Festival!

Festival Inclusions

What Your Group Will Do:

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

01

Festival Performance with Detailed, Full Clinic

Enjoy an evaluated festival performance of your chosen repertoire. Then, one of our Teaching Artists (Catherine Birke, Evan Harger, Greg Bimm, or Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant) will work with you and your ensemble for a detailed and engaging full clinic based on your performance.

You'll also benefit from detailed, written feedback about your performance from your other evaluators. And... Remember, this isn't a competition, so feel free to get creative in your programming!

02

Kick the Habit: The Power of Insightful Followers

Every year you work hard to identify the leaders of your program, but do you also cultivate astute followers?

Join us for an enlightening workshop session with leadership expert, Fran Kick, during which we'll explore the benefits of nurturing both exemplary leaders and insightful followers within your ensemble. It's about more than just leadership; it's also about "followership," and harmonizing every role to foster a "symphony of success!"

03

Pen2Podium Workshop

During this engaging workshop, our composer-in-residence, Arturo Rodriguez, will engage your performers in the creative process and industry of composition from start to finish for film, TV, and the concert stage with some new music you won't want to miss!

04

Conductor's Symposium

While your students are working with Arturo for the Pen2Podium Workshop, you and the other participating conductors will have the opportunity to work with one of the nation's best conducting artists, Kevin Noe, for a very small group conducting seminar.

What Your Group Will Also Get:

FESTIVAL DETAILS

In addition to the Festival Highlights listed above, you and your ensemble will also benefit from:

Invaluable insights for you and your ensemble;
Observation opportunities (watch other groups perform);
Outstanding collaborative experiences;
Audio recording of your festival performance;
Commemorative, personalized participation plaque; and
Memories to last a lifetime!

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Meet Your Teaching Artists.

Fran Kick

Leadership Expert
Bio
Arturo Rodriguez

Composer-in-Residence
Bio

Kevin Noe

Featured Conducting Artist

Bio

Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant
Teaching Artist
Bio
Greg Bimm
Teaching Artist
Bio
Catherine Birke
Teaching Artist
Bio
Evan Harger
Teaching Artist
Bio

Festival Rate...

♬ Performer Rate: $179.00 per performer

♬ Directors and Chaperones: Free

Application

Harmony Tours

Sample Itinerary

Day One

Travel Day to NYC
Meet your Dedicated Harmony Tours Guide
Check into Hotel
Inclusive Group Welcome Dinner

Day Three

Group Breakfast at Hotel
Participate in the Harmony Honors Festival - New York City
Free time to explore Manhattan
Inclusive Group Dinner (option for Group Dinner on the Hudson River with Hornblower Cruises)

Day Five

Inclusive Group Breakfast
Director's Selection: explore Central Park, shop along Fifth Avenue, visit American Museum of Natural History, etc.
Travel Home

Day Two

Inclusive Group Breakfast
Explore Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
Visit 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Observation Deck
Narrated walking tour of Chinatown or Little Italy
Inclusive Group Dinner in Manhattan

Day Four

Inclusive Group Breakfast
Tour Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall
Visit Metropolitan Museum of Art
Explore USS Intrepid (with optional performance opportunity)
Inclusive Group Dinner in Times Square
Attend Broadway Musical

Customize Your Tour

We have a scores of other ideas and options. Contact us to create and customize the perfect tour itinerary for you and your group!

REQUEST TOUR QUOTE

FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.

Can I have more than one ensemble perform?

Yes!
Is there a set repertoire list?

Nope. We encourage you to explore great literature of your choosing.
How much is the festival?

The Festival Only rate is $125.00 per performer, and directors and chaperones are free.
Do you have a preferred tour operator?

Absolutely! We highly recommend our sister organization, Harmony Tours, for all of your performing arts group tour needs... even if you can't join the Harmony Honors Festival.
Are there requirements to participate?

Ensembles that have achieved a superior rating within the past two years, or who submit a current non-edited recording of their ensemble to our Festival Director are most welcome to participate in the festival.
For the performance, what are the evaluation criteria?

With no ratings or rankings, our esteemed team of evaluators will be able to help each ensemble explore music interpretation, excellence, musicality and musicianship on their continued development and musical journey.

The evaluators will also include comments on the following rubrics for performance:

Tone Quality
• Produce a dark, characteristic tone quality • Produce a focused, controlled sound in all ranges and registers
• Demonstrate proper use of vibrato
• Produce a quality sound on percussion instruments through proper technique and choice of equipment
• Bowing/breath support -Upper range Lower range
• Produce uniform tonal focus throughout the ensemble

Intonation
• Demonstrate careful attention to tuning and pitch processes
• Understand chordal and harmonic structures
• Adjust any perceived pitch issues
• Demonstrate percussion tuning to match the ensemble
• Listening for pitch adjusting pitch issues
• Unisons /melodic pitch

Technique
• Meet technical demands with precision
• Demonstrate an understanding of styles of articulation
• Demonstrate dexterity in performing technical passages
• Start and stop together, within sections and across the ensemble
• Finger/bowing precision

Rhythm
• Demonstrate control of rhythms
• Maintain tempo
• Produce a natural feel to rhythmic passages
• Demonstrate control in multi-metered passages
• Vertical alignment Subdivision

Balance
• Produce correct balance in all sections of the music
• Demonstrate balance between inner and outer voices
• Demonstrate the melodic line as the prevalent voice as required
• Understand the supportive relationship between the percussion, strings and wind sections

Musicianship
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• Demonstrate the music's expressive features
• Shaping phrases using dynamics, articulation, and direction
• Produce effective moods and emotions
• Demonstrate an understanding of musical style
• Interpretation

"We had a wonderful time! Great trip, wonderful guide, fun festival!"

- Hawaii tour and festival participant from the Seattle Children's Chorus

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"We had an incredible choir tour with Harmony Tours!!! It feels so good to travel with these incredible humans! Mahalo Hawaii!"

- Kimberly R, Choir Director, Green Valley High School

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"It was a wonderful trip. Well organized. Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. Great sites and meals. Thank you!!!

- Seattle tour participant from Sheldon High School
Thank you for coordinating the Band's tour to Orlando. My daughter had a great time and I felt like she was well taken care of."

- Kirsten H, Tour Participant Mom

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"THANK YOU for making our dreams come true. We could not have done this without you!"

- Steve P, Band Director, Tournament of Roses Parade Band

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"Such a fabulous and fun day with my Chamber Singers at the Choirs of America Festival today!"

- Laura R, Choir Director, Chino Hills High School

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"The experience of performing in the esteemed Carnegie Hall was awe-inspiring and will have a lasting impact on me, and the choir."

- Marshall W, Artistic Director, Voices of Unity Youth Choir

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"After 7 trips to Carnegie Hall, I can say I enjoyed yours the most!"

Bonnie G, Director Emeritus, Royal High School Choir

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"Your format for this festival does have a positive effect on the teachers and choirs choosing to attend your event."

- Dr. Andre Thomas

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"Singing at Carnegie Hall constituted one of the most intense moments of my life."

- Choral Participant, COA Nationals for Top Choirs

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"We are still flying high from a wonderful weekend with Choirs of America and Dr. Z. Randall Stroope in the magnificent Carnegie Hall!"

- Trish J, Artistic Director, New Jersey Youth Chorus
"Great tour guide. Jam-packed fun and very well-organized. Thank you!"

- Rowena C, Tour Participant

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"We had an absolutely incredible time!!! Everything was so organized. We will definitely use your company again and again!"

- Kim R, Tour Participant

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"Such an amazing experience, so many activities, so much to see and we saw it all! Great hotel, comfortable and restful! We will definitely use Harmony Tours again!"

- New York City performing arts group tour participant from Central Valley Christian School
"Our son had an amazing experience that he will remember for the rest of his life. The entire trip was very well organized. It was impressive."

- Parent of NYC tour and festival participant from Ballard High School
"What a fantastic experience for students and parents. From the beginning of the planning process over a year ago to the actual trip, working with Harmony Tours was a pleasure every step of the way."

- Choir Director from Chaminade College Preparatory School, Nationals for Top Choirs in NYC + Carnegie Hall

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"We found the trip very well organized, run like a clock, and hugely fun and memorable!"

- NYC tour and festival participant from Brentwood High School
"My daughter had a great time! I was impressed by the itinerary and how thorough the cultural activities were. I hope the students get to experience another trip offered by Harmony Tours!"

- Parent of NYC tour and festival participant from The Hockaday School
"Very well organized, educational, and fun! Loved having a Tour Director help us in a city we didn't know. Things were timely run and very well handled."

- NYC tour and festival participant from Oak Ridge High School

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"My daughter had a wonderful time discovering new things in NYC with her friends. I loved being able to see her sing in Carnegie Hall. It was an amazing experience."

- Parent of a NYC tour and festival participant from Hollis Brookline High School

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"Well-planned itinerary! The students had a great time and their performance opportunities were fantastic. They loved listening to other choirs perform. Thank you Harmony Tours and Choirs of America!"

- Chaperone Parent of a Hawaii tour and festival participant from Benjamin Franklin High School

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