Band Enrichment Opportunities
The Northwest Band is committed to providing students with opportunities to grow and excel beyond the band room. Band enrichment opportunities such as scholarships, summer music camps, honor camps, and workshops allow students to develop their skills, gain new experiences, and connect with fellow musicians. Whether you’re looking for ways to improve as a performer, explore new musical challenges, or receive financial support for your education, this page is your go-to resource. Check back regularly for updates, and visit this page to explore the latest opportunities available to our band students!
Community Programs
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Sunday is the monthly jazz jam session, sponsored by the Community Jazz Center or CJC. This monthly event is held at The Cave DSM (1437 Walnut St in Des Moines) from 2-4 pm, and is a great opportunity for anyone who is developing their skills as a jazz improviser to meet and play with other jazz musicians from around the city. The event is free and open to anyone who wants to play or watch.
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The Des Moines Symphony Academy will be holding auditions for our Youth Jazz Orchestra on Wednesday, October 1st from 4-7 pm. For more information about specific instrument auditions expectations, visit Youth Jazz Orchestra Auditions. Please email joshua@dmsymphony.com to reserve your audition time.
The Symphony Academy is still accepting musicians who want to participate in our ensembles, specifically musicians who play oboe, horn, trombone and all strings for the Youth Symphony. The Youth Wind Ensemble is holding a second round of auditions on Thursday, October 9, beginning at 6:00pm at The Temple for Performing Arts. All musicians playing woodwind, brass and percussion instruments are encouraged to audition for this ensemble. Any musicians interested in scheduling an audition for either ensemble can contact Rachel Lowry, Youth Orchestras Manager, at academy@dmsymphony.org. cription
Scholarships
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Each year, the Iowa Bandmasters Association sponsors a scholarship for students who are pursuing a degree in music education at an Iowa college or university. For the audition, students are asked to perform a solo, sight read, sit for an interview, and take a music theory test. Auditions are held on Saturday, January 10th at Ankeny High School. For more information, click the link below and talk to Mr. Strohmaier.
Camps / Clinics
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More information to come.
Dates: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
National Level Honor Bands
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NOTE: The Drake Honor Band occurs at the same time as the Winter with Northwest, so any student who is involved in that concert may not participate in the Drake Honor Band.
The Drake University Honor Band Festival, hosted on December 5 and 6, provides outstanding high school musicians with the opportunity to work with our nation's finest conductors in select band settings. During the two-day festival, students and directors develop their skills through rehearsals and clinics with guest conductors and members of the Drake music faculty. The culminating events are the two evening concerts that feature the Drake Bands and the Honor Bands presenting a wide variety of the finest music for wind band. The Honors Concert Band and Honors Wind Ensemble are composed of over 200 students from throughout Iowa and Nebraska.
Participation in this honor band is determined based on director recommendation. If you would like us to recommend you for participation in this ensemble, please fill out the following application. You must return the interest form to Mr. Strohmaier by Friday, November 1 in order to be considered for recommendation.