Community members are invited to attend the Stanislaus County Music Festival on Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Modesto Junior College Auditorium. The festival kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday with the high school and junior high school Honor Choir. At 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, the high school and junior high school Honor Orchestra will perform, with the festival concluding Saturday evening with the high school and junior high school Honor Band performing at 7:00 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

Each year, outstanding guest conductors work with an honor band, choir, and orchestra (band and orchestra students must audition) to prepare for the performances. Students learn the music and rehearse together. This year’s guest conductors include Paul Kimball, Junior High Honor Choir; Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr., High School Honor Choir; Jonathan Hsu, Junior High Honor Orchestra; Michael Tackett, High School Honor Orchestra; Sarah Carpenter, Junior High Honor Band; and Dr. Phil Vallejo, High School Honor Band.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education and the Stanislaus County Music Educators Association sponsor this annual event. Students from the following local schools are slated to participate: 

High School: Beyer, Central Valley, Ceres, Davis, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Hughson, Johansen, Modesto, Oakdale, Patterson, Pitman, and Turlock.

Junior High/Middle School: Cardozo Middle, Dutcher Middle, Glick Middle, Great Valley Academy, La Loma Junior High, Mae Hensley Junior High, Mark Twain Junior High, Modesto Virtual Academy, Oakdale Junior High, Prescott Junior High, Roosevelt Junior High, Ross Middle, Savage Middle, Somerset Middle, Turlock Junior High, Ustach Middle and Waterford Junior High.