By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle/For the Reporter

MONTEVALLO – Middle and high school band students from across the state will come together Feb. 28 to March 2 to blend their musical talents at the 2014 University of Montevallo Honor Band Festival.

The university is expecting 300 or more students to attend the 21st annual honor band, said Julie McEntee, office manger in the Department of Music at the University of Montevallo.

Last year was the first time they allowed junior high students to participate in the honor band, and they will do it again this year.

“The middle school students sounded great, and we received really good feedback on it,” McEntee said.

After auditions, the students will be separated into five bands. There will be two junior high bands, called Festival and Falcon, and three high school groups – purple, gold and the wind ensemble, which includes the top student musicians. The groups will rehearse a variety of pieces, attend ensemble performances and just enjoy time with their peers.

“It’s good for them to get together and make music with a group of other students who have the same passion and talents that they do,” said McEntee, who is a musician herself, playing the French horn. “It’s also a great recruiting tool.”

All of the honor band students will perform at the final concert, which will be March 2 at 3:30 p.m. in Palmer Auditorium at the University of Montevallo. Community members are invited to attend, and there’s no charge for admission.

“The music and selections are always very enjoyable,” she said. “It’s amazing how good it sounds when you think about the limited hours of preparation they’ve had – only a day and a half, or so.”

For more information on this year’s honor band, call 665-6670 or email honorband@montevallo.edu. Band directors are asked to submit their student recommendation forms, which can be found at legacy.montevallo.edu/music/honorband.shtm, by Jan. 20.