Sponsorship is the same as for All-State/Region Orchestras:
All students must be enrolled for 1 unit of credit in their school string orchestra class if the same is offered at the school they attend.
Sponsorship for Orchestra Division activities, including Solo & Ensemble and Concert Festival, is the responsibility of the school string orchestra class teacher. In schools where there is no such class offered, sponsorship may be assumed by the private teacher provided this teacher is a member, in good standing, of the SCMEA Orchestra Division. An orchestra conductor who conducts an orchestra outside of a school situation may assume responsibility for sponsoring if there is no string or orchestra class offered in that student's school, and if that student does not study privately with an SCMEA Orchestra Division member. The sponsoring teacher in all cases must be a member of the SCMEA Orchestra Division by the date the application is submitted and participate at the Region and/or All-State event where the student is performing.
All sponsoring string teachers will serve as chaperones for their students at all activities: NO EXCEPTIONS.
1. All performing groups must submit registration and have paid all fees to the Concert Festival State Chair by the registration deadline (this date is always mid-January). A late fee of $25 will be assessed after the registration deadline. Information concerning deadlines and registration can be found on the www.scorchestra.net website.
2. Directors will be notified of their region's Concert Festival Itinerary mid-February. Directors will be expected to submit information (Concert Festival Teacher Form) requested by the Region Site Chair. This form can be found on the www.scorchestra.net website.
3. Concert festival performing groups shall consist of nine or more performers. Smaller groups should register for Solo and Ensemble.
4. All students must be enrolled in their school string or orchestra class if such a class is offered in the school they attend.
5. The director must indicate performance level at the time of registration. If the director indicates a “split level,” sight reading will be designated by the higher level.
6. Directors must present two original scores for each performance piece at the registration table upon arrival at the concert festival site. Scores should have measures numbered. Photocopies will not be accepted unless accompanied by a “permission for use” letter from the publisher.
7. No adults may perform with the group.
8. Ensembles shall perform two varied selections, one must be selected from the graded music list. The list is available at www.scorchestra.net.
9. Performing groups have the option of receiving a rating or registering for comments only. The Concert Festival Evaluation form can be viewed at www.scorchestra.net.
Ratings for Concert Festival:
I. Superior- Trophy or Plaque with “Superior”
II. Excellent- Trophy or Plaque with “Excellent”
III. Good- Trophy or Plaque with “Good”
IV. Fair- Certificate
V. Poor- Comments Only
10. Groups will be allowed 20 minutes for warm-up and 20 minutes for performance (entry, performance, and exit).
11. Groups will receive the Concert Festival Evaluation Form and recorded commentary from each judge.
12. The decisions of the judge are final.
SCMEA Orchestra Division Rules Concerning Sight Reading:
1. Depending on the venue, some groups will remain in the same hall for sight reading, others will proceed to another location. If a move is required, groups are allowed 7-10 minutes for entry (Regional Chairperson's discretion), seating, and tuning, 10 minutes for score study, and 5 minutes for performance. If remaining in the same hall, groups are allowed 5 minutes for tuning, 10 minutes for score study, and 5 minutes for performance.
2. Middle School and Junior High groups are not required to sight read.
3. High School groups are required to sight read.
4. Groups will sight read 2 grade levels below their highest performance level. If a group is registered as a “split level,” they will sight read 2 levels below the highest level.
5. One judge will be provided for the sight reading portion of the festival.
6. No students will read the same piece more than once. (This pertains to directors bringing more than one group playing at the same sight reading level.)
7. Students from other groups will be prohibited in the sight reading area until their turn.
8. Music will be distributed by room monitors and students will not be allowed to view the music until directed by the room monitor or judge.
9. During sight reading preparation, director and students are to make no audible instrument sounds. Singing, clapping, and “ghost” bowing is permitted.
10. The director will be advised when five minutes have passed, and then directed to begin performance after ten minutes.
11. Once the performance has begun, the director shall not stop or give any vocal instruction to the group.
