Eligibility
- Participation in festivals is open to schools holding a current school membership.
- Students should be enrolled in grades 6 to 12 and must be members in good standing of their school’s vocal music program as verified by the director of record under the MSVMA school membership.
- It is necessary to assess schools an additional fee for these events. These fees must be paid prior to or upon application for participation in any event.
MSVMA sponsors festival events for choirs, large and small ensembles and soloists. Students have an opportunity to perform for
adjudicators and to hear other festival events perform. Festivals are designed to be non-competitive. Directors may choose, when registering, to participate in choral festival for the festival experience or the festival experience with a rating.
Festival Code of Ethics Each festival participant and director is expected to conform to rules of good conduct, i.e., observance of care of property, behavior patterns, and adherence to all rules. Directors will show courtesy to all festival workers and ensure that proper adult supervision is present for their students at all events. Appropriate audience behavior and exhibiting undivided attention are to expected in all auditoriums and performance rooms. Students should show respect for other performers and give them the attention they would want themselves as performers.
Communications regarding events are to be between MSVMA members and event supervisors only. Parents and students are not to contact event supervisors. Event applications and adjudication forms are to be completed only by directors.
Directors will adhere to the schedule and leave the warm-up area when asked. Directors should use their ratings in an educational manner and not misrepresent them to the students or the public. Directors or festival participants will not attempt to influence the adjudicators. At no time will anyone other than the event supervisor approach or contact an adjudicator regarding a rating or student‘s performance. Concerns are to be addressed to the supervisor or written on the adjudicator evaluation form. If, in the opinion of the event supervisor, a serious infraction has occurred, the Board of Directors is to be informed by letter. The Board of Directors will take appropriate action which may result in the disqualification from participation in future festivals for a period of time not to exceed two years.
Adjudication Each event receives adjudication from a performance adjudicator including written comments to support the scoring decisions.
Directors are encouraged to complete an anonymous online Adjudicator Feedback Form following a Festival. Adjudicators will not see any director identification. A summary of the adjudicator's evaluations will be shared with the adjudicator at the end of the school year.
Awards
District Solo and Ensemble Festival and Choral Festival
The following will be provided/available at the conclusion of the event:
The Festival Experience - Participation Certificate (provided) I - Excellent Final Determination Rating - Blue Certificate (provided) and Blue Medal(s) (available for purchase) II - Good Final Determination Rating - Red Certificate (provided) and Red Medal(s) (available for purchase)
III - Fair and Developing Final Determination Rating - Participation Certificate (provided)
Medals for Division I and Division II performances will be sold on-site at all District and State Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Medals for Excellent and Good ratings will be sold on-site at all District and State Choral Festivals for $5.
- One certificate will be awarded for each event at District Festivals. Additional certificates will be available for purchase on-site.
- Seals of excellence will be attached to the certificates of choirs receiving Excellent ratings in Intermediate or Advanced sight reading.
- Plaques may be ordered from the State Office by going to the Plaque Order Form for entries receiving Excellent ratings at District Choral Festival.
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