The Delta State University Honor Band is an event for outstanding student musicians, from 8th grade through 12th grade, held annually in the spring. Participants are selected from across the region, based on individual submissions. Honor Band participants have the opportunity to receive quality training over the course of the clinic.

Zachary J. Harris taught instrumental music for 31 years in public schools in Mississippi. He is currently a part-time music instructor at William Carey University, where he teaches applied low brass, music education and supervises instrumental student interns. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Harris was Director of Bands for the Gulfport School District, where he oversaw all the instrumental wind programs for the district.

Mr. Harris, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mississippi Valley State University and his Master of Music Educationfrom the University of Mississippi. He is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association Inc., where he is past president, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the National Federation High School Music Association and Phi Beta Mu where he served on the Executive Board. Mr. Harris has served on regional and state level music committees in Mississippi. He was the Southeastern Representative for the National Federation of State High School Association’s Music Committee from 1997-2001. Mr. Harris has been a highly sought out guest clinician throughout the region and he has also presented at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference. Zachary is past president from all four districts he has worked. In 2005, Zachary was the guest conductor for the Mississippi All-State Concert Band.

Mr. Harris’ bands have received Superior ratings consistently through the years in marching, sight-reading, and concert.

In 2008, Mr. Harris Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the Mississippi Band Director’s Association State Clinic. The Gulfport Band is the only band to have performed for this special occasion twice. Mr. Harris was also named “Administrator of the Year” for the Brookhaven School District in 2002-2003. In 2005 he was selected as Star Teacher for Brookhaven High School. His band was also selected as the featured band for the “Year in Review” with the Mississippi High School Activities Association. In 2011, Mr. Harris was named Band Director of the Year for District and State. In March 2016, his Gulfport Symphonic Band performed at the Music for All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, and his band was the first band from Mississippi to be accepted to the National Festival. Upon performing his final concert with his symphonic band, the Mayor of Gulfport presented Mr. Harris with a proclamation naming May 1, 2017, as Zachary J. Harris day, for his outstanding service and dedication to the Gulfport School District Band Program. In December 2018, Zachary J. Harris was inducted in the Phi Beta Mu’s Delta Chapter of Mississippi’s Hall of Fame and in 2021, was inducted into the Magnolia Band Directors Association Hall of Fame, and in 2024 was inducted into the Gulf Coast Band Directors Association Hall of Fame.Most recently, Zachary Harris was named a Legendary Band Director in the state of Mississippi.

Zachary belongs to several professional music organization and is a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.  He is married to Sheila and they have two daughters Brianna and Zacharia.

Audition recordings should be submitted by Saturday, December 6, 2025. Selection criteria will focus on tone, intonation, accuracy, and expression as demonstrated though the performance in both scales and the prepared piece.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WINDS & MALLET PERCUSSION

1. Concert Ab Scale
2. Concert C Scale
3. Chromatic Scale in Instrument’s Practical Range
4. Prepared Piece of Applicant’s Choice, one (1) Minute or less, solo or etude, with performance of excerpts from Lion’s, All-State or District Band etudes strongly encouraged

Scales should be performed in eighth notes @ quarter note = 120, tongued ascending and slurred descending.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR RHYTHMIC PERCUSSION

1. Long Roll
2. Flam Accent
3. Paradiddle
4. Ratamacue
5. Prepared Solo Piece of Applicant’s Choice, one (1) Minute

HOW TO SUBMIT AN AUDITION RECORDING

To be considered for acceptance, you must follow these steps to submit an audition recording:

1. Create and record your audition on one continuous video file.
   • Say your name and school at the beginning clearly.
   • Introduce each scale or rudiment.
   • Say, “Prepared piece” and play your prepared piece.
   • Say, “End of recording” when you are done.
   • The entire video must be done in one continuous, unedited take.
     • Do not turn the camera off between the different parts of the audition.
     • Your face and fingers/valves/slides/sticks/mallets must be visible at all times in the video.
2. Rename your video file “DSUHB26 Last Name, First Name”.
   • Example:  “DSUHB26 Lewis, Marcus”.
3. Upload your video here.
   • This link will take you to a Microsoft OneDrive submission page where you will upload your video.