We are excited to be launching the first ever Kansas All Star Percussion Ensemble, with the inaugural performance to take place at the 2026 Kansas Bandmasters Association’s Summer Conference. This ensemble is a coordinated effort between KBA and the Kansas Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Students who participate in this ensemble will have the opportunity to experience performing in a collegiate-style ensemble, with advanced repertoire and guidance from collegiate professors from across the state.
TIMELINE
Audition Window: November 5 – December 19, 2025
Auditions Due: December 19, 2025 by 11:59pm via Festival Scores (Event Code: 37HKDLV)
Ensemble Announced: January 5, 2026 via Email
Acceptance Deadline: January 12, 2026
Participation Fee: $20 (Invoice will be sent out upon acceptance and will be due on March 2nd)
Music Released: March 2, 2026
Rehearsal: July 15-16, 2026 (12:00-7:00pm) at Maize High School
Hotel/Lodging: Must be arranged andprovided by students
Sound Check: 12:00noon-4:10pm at the DoubleTree Hotel Wichita Airport
Performance: July 16, 2026 (4:30pm) at the DoubleTree Hotel Wichita Airport
AUDITIONS
Students who have been selected to participate in their KMEA district ensembles will be eligible to audition for a spot in this year’s ensemble. There will be no cost to register, but students will need to submit all videos to be fully considered for placement in the ensemble.
The audition information will consist of video excerpts from the KMEA 2025 All-State Band Audition Packet. Students will be expected to upload videos of the following excerpts:
Snare: “Etude No 3” (Smikhal)
Marimba: “Cascades” (Calbeck)
Optional: Four-Mallet Excerpt PDF (Please email video of optional excerpt to Dr. Luke Helker)
Timpani: “Rotation No 3” for 4 drums (Wickersham)
Additionally, students with experience in playing four-mallet marimba are encouraged to submit a video performance of the attached Four Mallet Excerpt (Helker). NOTE: Students are not required to submit a four-mallet video, this is mainly for repertoire consideration and part assignments. If you do not submit a four-mallet video you will neither be excluded from consideration for the ensemble, nor will you be assigned any four-mallet parts.
The members of the adjudication panel will be the members of the KPAS board:
President: Daniel Albertson
Vice-President: Luke Helker
Secretary: Theo Musick
Treasurer: Alan Wong
For convenience and a more efficient evaluation process, we kindly ask that you label your videos beginning with your first name, followed by the instrument. An example might look like this: Helker_Snare.
If you are uploading your video to YouTube and sending us a link, please make sure that it is in an UNLISTED link. Please include the link in your registration form.
Questions: Please e-mail Dr. Luke Helker directly at lrhelker@fhsu.edu