Solo & Ensemble Festival

Date:
May 17, 2025
Deadline:
Friday, April 11, 2025
 
 
Fee:
$20.62 per SOLO, per event ($30.80 day of)
 
$41.24 per ENSEMBLE, regardless of size ($51.26 day of)
 
 
Chair:
TBD
Site:
TBD (directions)
 
 
Registration:
What is Solo & Ensemble?
  • Solo & Ensemble is just what it sounds like... an event where students and other musicians get together and perform either in ensembles, or as a soloist, sometimes with a piano accompanist.
  • Solo & Ensemble is open to students from elementary through high school.
  • This event is, in some ways, similar to an audition, and in some ways is similar to a concert. Participants play in a room in front of a judge, and are given a performance rating - however, unlike All-State, they are not compared to others, but are given a rating based on their individual performance.
  • Depending on the comfort level of the performer, teachers/parents/peers are indeed WELCOME in the room during the performance:
    1. Enter or leave rooms only between performances.
    2. Do not talk while performances are in progress.
    3. Maintain quiet in hall and corridors.
  • Medals are awarded for rating of "Superior" or "Excellent". Students that perform at a high level and are deemed "Concert Ready" may be invited to play at the Honors Recital in June, see details below.

Procedures:
  • In the event that you are registering an ensemble where one or more members of the group attends a different school, please be sure that the other school is not ALSO registering the same event (to avoid duplication).
  • Since pre-registration ends weeks before the festival, if you need to, please make a "best guess" as to the level at which your student(s) will be playing. It is acceptable if an occasional student changes his/her mind after registration and performs at a different level the day of the festival.
  • Scheduling priority will be done based on date of online application only after receipt of payment.
  • All music performed (with the exemption for modern or non-traditional ensembles) should be listed in the NYSSMA, New England, Virginia, Wisconsin, or Texas list (se below). If a student selects an unlisted piece, the student must provide a copy of the selection to the room adjudicator upon performance. Continuing, if the selection does not have a grade, then the sponsoring teacher must assign the selection to the "Open-Class" category on the adjudication form.
  • All students will be adjudicated as either Elementary Grades 1-6 or Junior/Senior Grades 7-12.
  • Students are eligible to receive an award only once per selection - additional performances of the same selection will not be eligible for additional awards.
  • Instrumental ensembles performing in grade level 1 or 2 (or WI or TX equivalent) may have 2 students per part if absolutely necessary. Vocal ensembles are to have no more than 2 students per part.
  • Instrumental ensembles performing in grade levels 3 - 6 (or WI or TX equivalent) may use only 1 student per part.
  • Adjudicators will be unaffiliated with participating students. Any incomplete or unsigned forms will not be accepted by the adjudicator or processed for awards. All solos and ensembles will be evaluated by the adjudicator and rated with "Superior", "Excellent", "Good" or "Poor". Medals will be awarded to all "Superior" and "Excellent" Solo & Ensemble performances.
  • All students participating MUST HAVE A SINGLE ORIGINAL COPY of their piece. Students without an ORIGINAL COPY will not be allowed to perform. If an ORIGINAL COPY is no longer available, or was ordered and did not arrive on time, a letter/receipt from the publisher or music dealer confirming this fact must be attached to the photocopy. A temporary copy can be made for the student to play from (give the adjudicator the original) but it must be destroyed after the festival. NOTE: printed copies of IMSLP and CPDL pieces are always allowed, including any music posted directly on RIMEA's website.

The Day of the Festival:
  • Students should report directly to their scheduled room, 15 minutes before their assigned time (when possible); there is no need to "check in" if they know where they are going.
  • All students participating must be on the schedule. The judges will be using their lists to confirm student registration. Any student not on the list must have a registration confirmation in order to participate which can be obtained from entrance main lobby the day of the festival. Students that wish to register on-site must be registered by a RIMEA member, for a fee of $30.80 (solos) and $51.26 (ensembles).
  • Students must also have the PROPER SOLO & ENSEMBLE ADJUDICATION FORM with them. Be sure the student has the correct form and that all information has been completed correctly. (TIP: if you download the PDF forms (rather than open them in your browser), you can type in them before you print them.) Incorrect or missing information of the adjudication form only delays the performance and causes judges to fall behind on their schedules.
  • Students are handed their forms as they leave. Students are to take their forms to the medal room to receive a medal.
  • Sponsors/students are responsible for finding their own accompanist, if accompaniment is desired. RIMEA does maintain a database of accompanists that sponsor can access.
  • Any students using a CD/MP3 accompaniment will need to CARRY IN THEIR OWN CD/MP3 PLAYERS/SPEAKERS.
  • Percussion room 137a will contain a marimba, xylophone, vibes, bells, chimes, bass drum, snare drum, 4 toms, 4 timpani, drum set, sus cymbal and crash cymbal.
  • Once finished playing, the adjudicator will hand the student their completed adjudication form. If a student receives a rating of "Excellent" or "Superior", they should take the form to the entrance main lobby to receive a medal.
  • Students are expected to behave properly the entire time they are on the TBD campus. Unruly students will not be allowed to perform.
  • Any food consumption may be done in the designated areas of the facility.

Selection(s) to be performed should conform to these time limitations:
  • Levels 1-4 (B and C on Wisconsin, 2 & 3 on Texas) are 6 minute slots
  • Levels 5-6 (A on Wisconsin, 1 on Texas) are 8 minute slots

Honors Recital:
  • To be nominated TO AUDITION AS A SOLOIST for the Honors Recital students must receive a score of 33‐35, play a NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association list), New England, or Virginia Level 6 piece, Wisconsin Level A, or Texas Level 1 with live or Smart Music accompaniment, (if it is a piece with accompaniment), and be deemed “Concert Ready”.
  • To be nominated TO AUDITION AS AN ENSEMBLE students must receive a score of 33‐35, play a NYSSMA, New England, or Virginia Level 5 or 6 piece, Wisconsin Level A, or Texas Level 1 and also be deemed “Concert Ready”.
  • The term “Concert Ready” means the performance, as heard by the adjudicator, would be acceptable as if it were being performed in a live concert recital today.
  • To audition again for, and, if selected, to perform in the Honors Recital,accompaniments must be with a live accompanist, if it is a piece with accompaniment.
  • All decisions concerning the Honors Recital participants will be made by the Judges and Honors Recital Chairpersons during the Solo & Ensemble Festival and the Honors Recital auditions.

Sanctioned Music Lists:
Other Resources: