Rules & Regulations

Solo & Ensemble Festival Eligibility and Regulations:

Purpose:

To encourage the study and performance of solo and ensemble literature. Through students' practice and performance and a review of adjudicators' constructive comments, improved individual and group performance may result.

Eligibility:

  1. Any student attending West Virginia Schools in grades 4-12 is eligible. Elementary level is grade 4, Middle School is 5-8, and Senior High is 9-12. Students may enter through a private or school instructor. The teacher must be a member of WVMEA.
  2. Fees are due with the application. If the Festival is postponed, fees will not be returned. If it is cancelled, fees will be returned minus expenses. The fee schedule is as follows:
    • solos $7;
    • ensembles (2-6) $9;
    • ensembles (7-17) $12.
    Application dates and dates of festivals will be announced by each Region Chair.
  3. Large ensembles may not have more than 18 students. Instrumental ensembles are urged to follow the guide of 1 player per part. Ensembles of 6 or less should not be conducted; ensembles of 7 or more may be conducted if desired. Any elementary or middle school ensemble may be conducted if desired.
  4. Students receiving a "1" rating and recommended by a judge may submit a tape (or CD) recording to the State Honors Recital Committee for consideration. Students in grades 4-12 are eligible. If the music calls for a piano accompaniment, it must be used to qualify for selection in the Honors Recital.

Regulations:

  1. Memorization of solos is encouraged, but not required. Ensemble music does not need to be memorized. There is no required music list.
  2. If the music calls for a piano accompaniment, you are urged to use it. If this is not possible, the rating will not be affected by the lack of accompaniment. Use live accompaniment whenever possible.
  3. Six minutes will be allowed for each performance. If the time is exceeded, it will be up to the judge's discretion to stop the performance. The judge is not permitted to coach any student or ensemble.
  4. Entries will receive a rating unless the judge is notified that you want COMMENTS ONLY. In this case the judge must be in formed BEFORE the student(s) perform.
  5. The judge must be furnished with a copy of the music with measures numbered. Because of copyright laws, photocopies should not be used.
  6. Judges will adjust rating levels as follows: Elementary (4th grade), Middle School (5-8), and Senior High (9-12). All soloists will be judged Elementary (4th grade), Middle School (5-8), and Senior High (9-12) regardless of the grade level in the county. An ensemble that has a mixture of 8th and 9th graders or below will be judged at the Middle School level. Any ensemble that has 10th graders or above will be considered Senior High level. This applies to Region and State Festivals. The rating scale is 1-4, 1=Superior to 4=Fair, will be used for each division.
  7. Certificates should be awarded for "1" ratings.
  8. Judges are urged to make their comments as constructive as possible. Judges must sign the ratings sheets. Region chairs should collect the ratings sheets.
  9. Students are encouraged to listen to performances of others will attending the Festival.
  10. Judges may choose as many exemplary solos or ensembles to submit for possible inclusion in the State Solo and Ensemble Honors Recital as they wish. Only those with "1" ratings are eligible.

State Solo and Ensemble Honors Recital Regulations:

  1. Adjudicators at the Region Festivals may nominate exemplary solos or ensembles that have received a "1" rating. They may nominate as many or few as they feel deserve the honor.
  2. Memorization of solos is encouraged but not required. Solos and ensembles do not need to be memorized to be nominated.
  3. Region Chairs will give the nominated students or ensembles and Official State Recital Application blank as soon after the Festival as possible.
  4. Music teachers or any other MENC member may fill out the application; send it with a $6 fee and a cassette tape or CD of the nominated performance to the State Solo and Ensemble Chair. The deadline will be set by the State Chair.
  5. All movements and times of each movement must be listed. The Committee has the right to limit the number of movements performed.
  6. Live accompaniment must be used. The accompanist is an integral part of the performance and should be the person listed on the application. The same accompanist should be the one to play on the State Recital. In special situations changes in accompanists may be made by contacting the State Chair.
  7. There will be 2 Honors Recitals, one for Winds and Percussion and another for Voice, Piano, and Strings.
  8. Use a good quality cassette tape or CD. Sound quality is very important in the selection process.
  9. Certificates will be presented to all soloists and ensembles at the WVMEA Conference.
  10. Tapes/CD's will be returned by mail or at the convention. For those mailed, a fee of $1.50 for one tape, and $2.50 for 2 and above tapes.
  11. Selected students will be contacted by telephone and letters will be mailed to all those who have been accepted.
  12. The Winds and Percussion Recital is Thursday, March 12, 2009. The Strings, Voice, & Piano Recital is Friday, March 13, 2009.