Music in May 2025 ~ Celebrating our 75th annual festival

Our guest conductors for 2025 are:

Dr. Frank Ticheli, Jung-Ho Pak, Dr. Janet Galvan

The 75th Annual Music in May Festival will be May 22-24, 2025! 

Student interest forms and applications will open late fall 2024.

Music in May is one of the longest running high school music festivals in the United States.

Music in May was founded in 1948 at Pacific University by Richard A. Greenfield to encourage the development of string music in the public schools of the Pacific Northwest. Band and choir were added at the suggestion of high school music directors, who saw in the festival a means of recognizing students whose service to their particular schools was especially noteworthy.

Each year the number of nominees for places at Music in May far exceeds the number who can be accepted. Housing limitations and the natural requirements of each ensemble result in over 500 participants each year, approximately 300 in the choir, 170 in the band, and 80 in the orchestra.

Participants' achievements in three days, under distinguished guest conductors culminating in the Saturday afternoon concert, represent not only their own efforts, but those of approximately 170 high school directors who have developed their students’ talents and recommended them for Music in May. 

Selection Process

From applications submitted by the above deadline, participants are selected based on recommendations and ratings of their high school director. Once nominated and selected, students are committed to join the festival as a hand-selected member of their ensemble.

Instrumentation/voicing needs of the ensembles are also taken into account. After students are selected, music directors will receive acceptance letters and final registration forms.

Music in May 2025

GUEST CONDUCTORS:

Orchestra: Jung-Ho Pak

Choir: Dr. Janet Galvan

Band: Frank Ticheli

May 22-24, 2025
Pacific University | Forest Grove, OR

Final Concert   PURCHASE YOUR CONCERT RECORDING HERE  

May 24, 2025 at 3 p.m. in the Stoller Center

Students should fill out the Student Interest Form and provide it to their music director.

Directors: please fill out our contact page here.

Please note that the student referral deadline will be FEBRUARY 14, 2025.  

Location

Rehearsals, meals, overnight accommodations and the final concert are held on the Pacific University campus, Forest Grove, Oregon, 25 miles west of Portland.

Costs

TBD This includes, meals, lodging, and festival registration fees.

Partial and full scholarships may be available. Please contact us for information.

OPTIONAL COSTS

$45.00 – private lesson (half hour)

Meals

Includes Thursday dinner through Saturday lunch.

Housing

Pacific University student housing, two persons per room (there may be some triples and quads).

Mentors
Pacific University students are employed as mentors. They stay in the dorms with the Music in May participants and attend all rehearsals and events.

Mentors are supervised by University faculty and staff.

Music in May FAQ

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