Information for Participants
Festival Dates: January 30 through February 1, 2026
The Glenn Korff School of Music faculty are looking forward to working with you during the festival. It’s going to be a fun and rewarding three days of music for all of us. A final reminder – please have all the music well under your fingers by the time you arrive. There is no time for you to learn the parts when you get here. Please be prepared! Have a safe trip to Lincoln, and if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the Band Office at 402/472-6873 or e-mail band@nebraskal.edu.
Schedule
Breakfast times for Festival participants staying at the hotel are 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Please eat breakfast at a time that does not conflict with the Festival schedule. Breakfast is not provided for Festival participants that are not staying at the hotel. Download the Winter Festival schedule at the link below and check back occasionally for updates.
Download the 2026 Winter Festival Schedule
Honor Band Roster
The Winter Festival honor band roster was updated on January 9.
Download the 2026 Winter Festival Roster
Construction by Westbrook
Construction of the new music building is ongoing. The entrance at the corner of Q and 10th Street at the southwest corner of the building is open.
Housing
Those of you that requested housing will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express Lincoln Downtown at 905 O Street. The University will pay for the room, however, any incidental charges such as room service and parking will be your responsibility. Glenn Korff School of Music students will serve as counselors and will remain on the hotel floors while festival participants are in residence. Also, a University staff member will be on call at all times. The Holiday Inn Express hotel is within walking distance of Westbrook Music Building. There are fast food restaurants within walking distance of the music buildings and the hotel.
Check in at the hotel will take place on Friday, January 30 after the 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM rehearsal. We’ll store your luggage in a secure location in the basement of Kimball Recital Hall until it is time to walk to the hotel. Be sure to mark your bags with at least your name using a luggage tag. Please note that a colored ribbon is not a luggage tag. The counselors will be available to help move luggage from campus to the hotel. However, remember that you’ll be carrying your luggage so pack accordingly. Only those that have previously reserved housing space can be accommodated. Check out will be on Sunday, February 1 no later than 11:00 AM. It would be best to check out of the hotel before the 9:30 AM rehearsal. You may store your luggage in Kimball Recital Hall until after the finale concert.
Please see the Holiday Inn Express Lincoln Downtown web site for more information about the hotel.
Parking
Overnight guests at the Holiday Inn Express Lincoln Downtown must use their valet parking for $10.00 per day with unlimited in and out privileges. Participants that are not staying in the hotel should use one of the downtown parking garages. Please see the Park and Go web site for more information. Note that parking fees are the responsibility of participants.
Meals
You will be responsible for the following meals: Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. Fast food and full service restaurants are within walking distance of Westbrook Music Building and Kimball Recital Hall. The hotel provides a free breakfast for hotel guests. Please note that most downtown restaurants are not open for breakfast. Please bring sufficient cash with you to pay for your meals.
Saturday Night Dinner
The Saturday, night dinner (mandatory attendance for festival participants) will be held from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM at Westbrook Music Building in the main lobby. Parents and/or guardians, family members and band directors that wish to attend are welcome, but they MUST contact the University Band Office at 402.472.6873 or band@unl.edu to reserve a seat. There is no charge for the pizza dinner. Reservations for non-festival participants must be made by noon on Friday, January 23, 2026. Late reservations cannot be accepted.
Check-in at Kimball Hall and Westbrook Music Building
Festival participants staying at the Holiday Inn Express must drop off luggage at Kimball Recital Hall from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Friday, January 30. Go to the performers' entrance on the west side of the building. Signs will be posted and counselors will be available to help. Kimball Recital Hall is just north of the Lied Center for Performing Arts loading dock area at North 11th and Q Street. Mark your luggage and instrument cases with a luggage label containing your full name and home address.
All festival participants check-in at main lobby of Westbrook Music Building on Friday, January 30 from 10:00 AM to noon. The only entrance to Westbrook Music Building is at 330 North 10th Street which is the southwest corner of the building. Festival staff and counselors will be available to help you.
Portions of Westbrook Music Building are inaccessible due to construction. Please do not walk through any area that is a construction zone.
Masterclass
The Winter Festival provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in a masterclass (or group lesson) with a Glenn Korff School of Music faculty member. Each festival participant must bring one solo piece of your choice to the masterclass. Please be prepared to play the solo during the session.
Finale Concert
The Finale Concert is on Sunday, February 1 at 3:00 PM in Kimball Recital Hall. The concert will feature the Winter Festival Honor Band and the University Wind Ensemble. Admission is free and is open to the public. Parking is available (at audience expense) in the city's downtown parking garages. Audience members must use the main entrance on the north side of the building.
Concert Dress
Concert dress for the Finale Concert on Sunday is business casual attire. This is a really useful category of dress because it applies to many situations. Pants or skirts should be well pressed and in a dark color. Avoid clothes that are too tight, too baggy, or not of the appropriate length (skirts should fall below the knee, pants should be long). Jeans, sweat pants, athletic pants, or shorts are not acceptable business casual attire. Shirts or blouses should be well pressed, with a collar (no t-shirts). Avoid anything too bright, trendy, or ill-fitting. Sweaters are okay but avoid sweatshirts (hoodies are a definite no - save those for gym). Go for clean and presentable shoes in an appropriate color to match your outfit. Avoid sneakers and high heels. It’s a good idea to make sure your socks match your shoes. Keep accessories and grooming simple. Performers in ensembles strive to avoid anything too flashy or overbearing in order to keep the focus on the music. Also, as a rule, performing musicians do not wear cologne, perfume, or body spray because it interferes with breathing in the ensemble.
If you’re intrigued by fashion categories, Gardner-Webb University has a handy style guide.