BGSU High School Honor Band
November 20-22, 2025!
Jennifer Olis
Jennifer Olis is the Director of Bands in the Grandview Heights School District in central Ohio. At Grandview, Jennifer teaches the high school concert band, high school marching band, high school jazz band, eighth grade band, and assists with the fifth, sixth, and seventh grade bands. She also leads chamber ensembles, the musical pit orchestra, and the pep band program. Prior to coming to Grandview, Jennifer taught for five years in the Logan Hocking School District in southeastern Ohio and six years at Muskego High School in southeastern Wisconsin. Under her direction, the Muskego High School Wind Ensemble performed at the 2009 and 2014 Wisconsin State Music Association Conferences. In 2012, Jennifer was one of three selected participants in the National Band Association Young Conductor Mentor Project where she studied with renowned conductors and educators Mark Camphouse, Paula Crider, and Gary Hill.
An avid supporter of new works for concert band, Jennifer has participated in several commissioning projects resulting in works by composers Viet Cuong, Zachary Koors, Taras Nahirniak, Michael Sweeney, and John Mackey. She is the recipient of The Ohio State University Outstanding Graduate Associate Award (2017) and The Ohio State University Fellowship Award (2015). She is a member of NAfME, Sigma Alpha Iota, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Trombone Performance degrees from Ohio University and Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University, where she studied with Dr. Russel Mikkelson. Jennifer and her husband, Michael, live in Pickerington, Ohio with their children Molly and Julian.
Nate Lampman
Mr. Nate Lampman spent twenty-eight years as a public school educator, serving as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Saline High School in Michigan. In Saline, he oversaw one of the state’s exemplary high school band programs with the marching and concert bands performed at a variety of venues across the country. Under his direction, the Saline Wind Ensemble performed three times as a featured ensemble at the Michigan Music Conference, and at the Western Michigan University Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music in 2015. He is a past president of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District 12 and was named MSBOA District 12 Teacher of the Year three times.Mr. Lampman earned his MA in Music Performance from Michigan State University, where he studied wind conducting with Professor John Whitwell. He also served as the graduate assistant with the Spartan Marching Band and Spartan Brass. Additionally, he earned his BS in Music Education at MSU. During his time at Saline High School, Mr. Lampman supervised fifty-two student teachers from The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Eastern Michigan University. In 2017, he was selected by the Michigan Association of Teacher Educators as Cooperating Teacher of the Year for the State of Michigan.His professional memberships include ASBDA, MENC, ASC, and MSBOA. He remains active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor.
TBA
How do I get nominated for the BGSU High School Honor Band?
All nominations must come from your school director or a private teacher. Your teacher can contact us at bgsubands@bgsu.edu to get the nomination forms.
How will I know if I’m selected?
All communication is done via the email provided for you on the nomination forms. If selected, you and your teacher will receive an email from us with registration and acceptance forms.
What if I’m having trouble returning my acceptance forms?
All forms must be returned electronically. Most smartphones will let you take a picture of the forms and email them as a PDF document. The ‘Notes’ app on an iPhone works well, but GeniusScan is a free app that many people use.
How do I pay to participate and do you offer scholarships?
Unfortunately we are unable to offer scholarships or financial assistance. All payments must be made electronically through our EMarket. The links for that will be in your acceptance materials.
What does it mean when it asks if I will be a resident or commuter?
Resident students are housed in the hotel (see more information below) and commuter students arrive and depart each day for all activities and do not stay in our hotel.
What is included in the price to participate?
Cost of all instruction
BGSU Honor Band Shirt
BGSU Wind Symphony Concert on Thursday night
BGSU Jazz Band Concert on Friday night
Master Class or other professional presentation on Friday
Final concert by all HSHB participants on Saturday afternoon
Dinner (all you can eat) on campus on Thursday
Breakfast at hotel on Friday (resident only)
Morning snack of fruit and water on Friday morning
Lunch (all you can eat) on campus on Friday
Dinner (all you can eat) on campus on Friday
Breakfast at hotel on Saturday (resident only)
Morning snack of fruit and water on Saturday morning
Lunch (all you can eat) on campus on Saturday
What if I will be a resident participant and staying in the hotel?
Students staying in the hotel are considered ‘resident students’, and for the student only the BGSU Band Office make quad-occupancy hotel arrangements. Chartered bus service to/from BGSU to the hotel is provided.
What if my family wants to stay with me for the duration of the event in a hotel?
Sometimes families want to accompany participants. In this case, families would simply make their own hotel accommodations and register as a commuter student. For questions about this, or preferred hotel rates reach out to us directly.
What if I have dietary restrictions? Do I need to bring my own meals?
Our full-service dining facilities can manage any food restriction or dietary need. We will use the information you provide in your acceptance forms to coordinate any meal accommodations needed.
Can I bring my own food and snacks?
For the safety of all participants bringing food and snacks is discouraged. Healthy snacks of fruit and water are provided for all participants each day. There is a special “snack store” available at the hotel for resident students. Please bring cash – small bills preferred – to buy items at the hotel store. Food deliveries are strictly prohibited to the hotel and to the campus. Any DoorDash, UberEats, etc. deliveries will be refused.
Do I need to bring money?
All meals and snacks are provided, so the only reason you might need some cash is if you plan to purchase things in the hotel. Please bring small bills if you plan to purchase from our “snack store” in the hotel.
What should I wear?
The final concert is performed in the BGSU shirt we provide and denim (blue jeans) so you do not need a uniform or ‘dress clothes’. For the event, you should dress comfortably, but know that you will be walking short distances outside to meals, so dressing in layers with a coat is ideal. Most likely what you would normally wear to school is appropriate.
Do I need to audition?
The selection to participate is done through the nominations, but all accepted students take a brief, live audition when arriving on campus for the event. Detailed information about the audition is provided in the acceptance materials.
I still have questions! What should I do?
There is a chance we have not addressed something you need. Please reach out to us directly at bgsubands@bgsu.edu so we may assist you.
The BGSU honor band and select educational programming are presented in partnership with Rettig Music.
Updated: 09/23/2025 11:56AM