Home - The Sound of America Honor Band & Chorus

SOA 2004

Click below to view testimonials!

The Sound of America is a concert band and concert chorus comprised of talented high school and college instrumentalists and vocalists from across the United States of America. Each year, a new group of students are chosen for the annual European concert tour which takes place each summer.

SOA 2004 - Rothenberg Concert (Names unidentified) The band is directed by Mr. Clyde M. Barr (President of North American Music Festivals) and the chorus will be under the direction of Mr. Randall D. Yoder. This summer, 2007 will mark the 31st consecutive tour for the Sound of America Honor Band & Chorus.

After a rehearsal period of several days in the U.S., the ensemble presents two grand Bon Voyage concerts after which the entire group flies to Europe to present concerts in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg and France.

The tour enables talented students from throughout the nation to represent America in a highly positive manner as they perform before large European audiences in many of the most unique and finest SOA 2004 - ???, Ryan ??, ???, Derrick Dudley concert halls in Europe. Over 6000 Sound of America alumni, representing every state in America, can attest to the incredible musical experience and personal growth development they have received under the leadership of the SOA directors and staff. Most consider their tour experience the happiest and most significant enrichment experience of their lifetime.

Visit our Alumni News. Tour members from 1977-2006 can look at their alumni news and submit their own news. We've created a special page for alumni who have excelled in their field or have made special achievement. Click here for Special Alumni. Visit the SOA Alumni Group on MySpace!

UPCOMING ALUMNI REUNIONS
2004 Tour	5th year reunion will be held in August of 2009. Subject to change.
2000 Tour	10th year reunion will be held in August of 2010. Subject to change.
1996 Tour	15th year reunion will be held in Fall of 2011. Subject to change.
1991 Tour	20th year reunion will be held in Summer of 2011. Subject to change.
More tour years to come! If you would like to help with alumni duties and would like to become an alumni committee member, contact me, Scottie J. Haines, Director of Media and Alumni Services at soundofamerica@gmail.com.

Mr. Barr conducting the band in Rothenburg, Germany.

Displaying 12 of 19 awesome comments
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Jaclyn	Jan 23, 2007 1:26 PM this is so rad! omg! whos going in 'o7!!!! lets reunite!!!! :) miss ya'll.
Caitlen	Jan 20, 2007 11:11 PM that video is amazing!! it brings back so many great memories. :]
Drewcillie	Dec 31, 2006 12:22 PM Happy New Year!!
Allyssa	Dec 28, 2006 11:18 PM oh my gosh....this is too exciting!!! i miss SOA soooooooo much!!!....hope everyone is doing well :)
Drewcillie	Dec 25, 2006 10:18 AM Wow!! I didn't know SOA had this page.. It looks amazing!! I miss SOA so much!! Drewcilla
Evita	Dec 19, 2006 6:33 PM Oooh, let it be known that Alexia (under 2005) also went on tour in 2006, in case you're updating the list anytime soon. Thanks for including me; the page looks magnificent!
Chris	Dec 19, 2006 3:14 PM also i wish y'all would put rogers n hart in the music thing up there.
Chris	Dec 19, 2006 10:40 AM hey...I'm a 2006 alumni and I'm glad there's an official page. I miss SOA so much.
Norm	Nov 23, 2006 8:24 PM HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! I hope you all had a wonderful, safe, and fun day with your friends and families. Now it's time to go get some left overs, YES!!!! hahaha
Evita	Nov 9, 2006 5:15 PM Woo! What a wonderful idea. At last I can be reminded of the magic and glory that is Sound of America each time I log into myspace. sigh -Eva 2006, Chorus
Derrick	Oct 31, 2006 9:17 PM This is WAY cool. I went with SOA in 1991, and there has not been a day that has gone by that I have not thought about SOA! LOVE YOU GUYS!
Anneka	Oct 13, 2006 10:30 AM i miss soa so much.... 2003 was the bomb. aparently my dvds just came in the mail, and my mom is bringing them to me at school this weekend, im so freakin stoked to watch them! see everyones smiling faces again... :-)

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Mr. Barr is Tour Coordinator and Director of the Year 2007 Sound of America Honor Band. He received his B.S. in Music Education degree from West Chester State College and his M.M. Ed. degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Bands under the direction of Mr. Barr have had a history of competitive success on both state and national levels. His high school bands made two highly successful European Concert tours, won six Gold Medals in International Band competitions and won the distinguished title of "World Champion Show Band" at the VI Wereld Muziek Concours in Kerkrade, The Netherlands.

Mr. Barr is a member of MENC, NBA, ASBDA and a past State President of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He has been the recipient of Carlisle's "Citizen of the Year Award," the coveted "MAC" Award and the "Outstanding Young Men of America Award," and the prestigious Kiwanis International Hixon Award.

Currently, he is serving as President of North American Music Festivals. He also appears frequently as guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician at numerous concert band, stage band, parade and field show events. Thanks to his many years of experience in music education as well as travel, Mr. Barr arranges tours for high school, college and other organizations each year.

Mr. Barr has served as not only the Band Director and Tour Director, but also as one of our bus leaders while in Europe. He has been leading this group throughout Europe for the past 30 years.

Mr. Yoder served as the Director of the 2002, 2004 and 2006 Sound of America Honor Chorus. He will be the Sound of America Honor Chorus Director in 2007. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Susquehanna University and his Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College.

Mr. Yoder has been awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for PBS station WITF TV 33's production of "Historic Pennsylvania." He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, a public school music educator, church music director and conductor of the York County Honors Choir and is performing with the professional jazz group, "A Touch of Class."

In addition to his local conducting and teaching responsibilities, he serves as the Co-Director of Fred Waring's America Elderhostel Choral Program at Penn State University . He frequently serves as guest conductor for choral festivals, accompanist for numerous vocal recitals and as professional pianist/recording artist. Several choirs under his direction have traveled on concert tours of Europe in recent years.

2006