2026 Sonoma Invitational Wind Band & Orchestra Festival

Regional Affiliate of the Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha

Date of Event: March 11–13, 2026

Application Window: August 8 through September 5

Participation Fee: $500 per ensemble (payable upon receipt of invoice)

The Sonoma Invitational Wind Band and Orchestra Festival is a three-day event open to select high school ensembles from throughout the Western States. Featured performances will be given by the Sonoma Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra, as well as masterclasses with SSU Music Faculty.

The Sonoma Invitational is a non-competitive, non-rated festival, with emphases on musical artistry and education. This unique experience offers your students the opportunity to perform in Weill Hall, one of the nation’s premier concert venues.  Performing ensembles receive audio feedback of your performance from the adjudicators, a 30-minute clinic from a nationally-recognized collegiate band or orchestra director immediately following the performance, and a clean video recording of the performance (free of comments). In addition, the conductor of each ensemble receives a video recording featuring a frontal view of the conductor with recorded comments from one of the adjudicators.

The Sonoma Invitational is an affiliate of the Music for All National Festival, qualifying premier ensembles for an opportunity for national exposure at the annual Music for All.

The festival is open to the public, free of charge. A daily parking fee of $6 is enforced by university parking services.

2026 FESTIVAL APPLICATION FORM

NEW FESTIVAL INFORMATION for 2026

Directors may nominate up to two (2) ensembles to perform. Complete a separate application form for each ensemble.

*Ensembles will be selected from the application pool. Directors will be notified via email by September 15 if their ensemble(s) has been selected to perform.

Directors will be notified if their group(s) has been wait listed, and will be notified if additional ensemble slots become available.

Directors whose group(s) have been selected will receive an invoice for participation fees. Please do not send fees until you receive an invoice. Fees must be received by October 15 to guarantee festival slot(s). Fees are non-refundable.

Participating schools are expected to fully participate in the festival, including attending assigned audience times to hear performances by other groups, attending the performances by the Sonoma State University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, and attending assigned masterclass sessions.

Food Trucks will be on site between 10:00 am - 3:30 pm.

For questions regarding invoices and fee processing, contact Brooke Tester: [email protected]

For questions regarding the festival, contact Festival Host Andy Collinsworth: [email protected]