Seven Star Middle School Honor Band

This upcoming summer, 7th-grade band students throughout Florida will have the opportunity to perform as members of the 2026 9-Star Honor Band. The ensemble will be conducted by Hannah Jennings, Lake Nona Middle School (Orlando, FL)

Dates:

Wednesday, July 8 - Thursday, July 9, 2026

Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Theme Park Resort
10100 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

Nomination Forms and Participant contracts are generated through MPA Online. Log in and click "7-Star Honor Band Nominations." No payment is needed up front. 

Once students are accepted into the ensemble, the director will be responsible for registering students/chaperones as part of their FBA Summer Conference registration (available on the FBA website). The cost will be $20.00 per accepted student and $15.00 per chaperone. At least one registered chaperone is needed per school in addition to the school's Band Director.

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS:

• The Director must be a current member of the FBA and attend the FBA Summer Conference (July 8-9, 2026) if students are selected.
• Students must be currently in the 7th grade in your band program during the 2025-2026 school year.
• Nominations open on March 15, 2026
• Directors may nominate up to five students, ranked in order of ability. Please include color instruments in your selection.
• Directors must submit a brief description for each student nominated stating the student's musical aptitude, achievements, etc. in the space provided on the nomination form. Student solo/ensemble evaluation, band MPA evaluation will be considered, as will individual music awards, honors, and achievements.
• Nomination forms must be sent to the email address listed in the nomination form generated in MPA Online.
• Nominations close on April 15, 2025. Incomplete, incorrect, or late nomination forms will not be considered.
• Results will be posted in MPA Online on May 1, 2025.
• All accepted participants must complete and return a 9-Star Participant Contract to the email address listed in the nomination form generated in MPA Online..
• Students, chaperones, and directors must register by June 30, 2026.

Any questions should be directed to 7-Star Band Coordinator Angela Polito at 7star@fba.flmusiced.org 

Conductor

Hannah Jennings was appointed director of bands at Lake Nona Middle School in 2010.  She is responsible for a fully comprehensive middle school band program consisting of beginning, intermediate, and advanced level wind bands, as well as jazz band.  Bands under her direction are consistently rated “Superior” at Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment events.  Prior to Lake Nona Middle School, Mrs. Jennings taught at Bridgewater Middle School and Legacy Middle School in Orange County, as well as Southside Fundamental Middle School in Pinellas County.  

An alumnus of the prestigious Lassiter High School Band (Marietta, GA), Mrs. Jennings holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education (1999) and a Master’s degree in Music Education (2008) from the Florida State University.  While at FSU, she was a member of the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Concert Band.  She studied conducting with Dr. Patrick Dunnigan and Richard Clary, and clarinet with Dr. Frank Kowalsky.  

Mrs. Jennings is actively involved with the Florida Bandmasters Association as an adjudicator for Music Performance Assessments throughout the state of Florida and served as a member of the FBA Executive Board for 7 years.  She currently serves as the chairperson for the All-State Committee and will soon begin to serve as FBA President-Elect.  Mrs. Jennings is also active as a clinician for honor bands and music camps across the state.  

Mrs. Jennings holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Tau Beta Sigma.  She resides in Orlando with her husband, Franklin.