School of Music

November 13-15, 2026

A selective experience for high school students from across the Northwest US and Canada.

Reviews

"This was the most amazing experience! Everyone was just as passionate about band as I am!!" - Former All-Star participant

"This was an incredible opportunity for my students to experience music at a high level and play alongside excellent musicians from schools throughout the Northwest.”  - Director

"Wonderful event.  Great venue on a walkable, clean campus.  I would definitely like to have my daughter return next year.”  - Parent

Registration

Please complete the registration and payment only after notification of being selected.

Registration Includes:

• All event activities
• Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday light brunch
• Streaming access, access to the concert video file and event photos 
• Game entry (participants only).

Online Process

• Registration must be completed by every student participant.
• Please fill it out with a parent if the student is under 18 y/o.
• Click the orange "Registration" button below to start.
• Registration Fee: $135. Deadline: Friday October 23, 2026.

 For schools whose directors selected to pay with school funds.

• Each student still must complete the registration form.
• Directors will be emailed invoices. 
• Pay by credit card over the phone only at 406-243-6880 (ask for Bayley).
• Pay by check. Mail district checks to: 

Lodging

Reserved and paid for by parents or schools.

Comfort Inn University - Festival Hotel - Limited 

Located just east of downtown and across the river from the UM campus. Rooms have two queen beds per room or a king bed with pullout sofa with a maximum occupancy of four. All rooms include breakfast.

Other Options: You are welcome to reserve rooms in other hotels. Another option would be VRBO or AirBnB properties. We recommend that you do this at your earliest convenience (after notification that you have been accepted) because it is a home game weekend and demand is high.

Combining with other schools - If you want to combine with people from other schools into fewer rooms to help defray costs we will distribute a list of directors with emails.

Meals

Lunches and dinners are provided by UM and are included in the participant registration price. Breakfasts are not provided by the festival. We will have snacks/light fare on Sunday morning just before the concert. There are vegetarian, gluten-free and diary-free options.

Supervision & Communication

Supervision

• On-campus: (8:30 am until 8:30 pm) students are kept to a tight schedule. 100+ UM music students and faculty are leading participants in rehearsals, classes, travel to and from the stadium (in years with a game), and travel to and from the cafeteria throughout the weekend. Many directors and parents also choose to help supervise.
• Off-campus: For the time All-Star participants are away from campus for lodging, they must arrange for adult supervision either by their parent, their band director or another participant's parent or band director. The adult is also responsible for dropping off and picking up students under their supervision.

Communication

• Student and parent phone numbers are used to facilitate fast and easy communication.
• For current group information we also use the app REMIND. You do not need the app to join. Click umallstar1 OR umallstar2

Music

Schedule

Begins - Friday, Nov. 13th, 12:30pm-1:45pm MST: Check-in opens (Dennison Theatre Lobby)

Ends - Sunday, Nov. 15th, 2:00pm MST (Final Concert @12:00 pm MST) 

2025 DETAILED SCHEDULE

2026 detailed schedule coming soon.

Concerts and Game Tickets

FRIDAY & SUNDAY CONCERTS

 UM Ensembles Host Concert

High School All-Star Concert

FOOTBALL GAME TICKETS

Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:30 PM, Washington Grizzly Stadium

Parking

2026 Parking

Friday 11/13: Info coming soon

Saturday, 11/14: Info coming soon

Sunday, 11/15: FREE anywhere except handicap

What to Wear and Bring

• Rehearsals – casual attire
• Sunday Concert – Same concert dress as your home high school or concert black.
• Mutes as called for in the music.  Reeds, oils, greases, etc.
• A great attitude and a willingness to meet others.

University of Montana Scholarship Auditions

• UM School of Music scholarship auditions are available to seniors during the event.
• Music scholarships cover from 10%-80% of tuition, can be bundled with most academic/leadership scholarships, and can be awarded to both in-state and out-of-state students.
• Auditions are ten minutes in length.
• Scholarship audition requirements are listed on the School of Music website at the following link: Audition Information
• Call or email Bayley Mickolio at 406-243-6880 for scheduling.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Director Nominations (preferred)

Thank you for taking some of your time to help organize your students' participation. A little bit of oversight really helps the success of the event and the student experience.

DIRECTOR NOMINATION FORM 

Student Self-Nominations

It is preferred that nominations go through your high school director. However, in certain cases, we understand that is not possible and welcome your self-nomination.

STUDENT NOMINATION FORM

Deadline

Nominations must be received by Thursday, October 1.

Notification

Directors and students will be notified of the results via email on Monday, October 5th.