Overview

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The State Solo & Ensemble Festival is open to all Maryland public and private school music students in grades 6-12 who have earned a Superior (I) rating on a solo or ensemble performance of a music grade 2 or higher at the Maryland District Solo & Ensemble Festival. Students must perform music from the MMEA approved repertoire lists.

Qualifying Solos & Ensembles must have participated in one of the following district/county events:

District 1 – Prince George’s County
District 2 – Montgomery County
District 3 – Anne Arundel County
District 4 – St. Mary’s County
District 5 – Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties
District 6 – Harford County
District 7 – Baltimore County
District 8 – Carroll County
District 9 – Allegany and Garrett Counties
District 10 – Baltimore City
District 11 – Charles County
District 12 – Calvert County
District 13 – Howard County
District 14 – Frederick County
District 15 – Washington County
District 16 – Cecil County
 

The Goals of the Festival are to:

• Provide an opportunity for wind, percussion, vocal, and string students to perform musical literature for evaluation alone and in groups.

• Provide an opportunity for students to select and prepare solo and ensemble literature for performance.

• Encourage students to perform solo literature.

• Provide a formative tool so students can self-evaluate and receive quality feedback about their technique and performance.

 

Component Policy & Procedure Reference 

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MMEA is following the most recent set of Policy and Procedures for MBDA, MCEA, and MODA, linked below.

Please reference the following Policy & Procedures.

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Note - for registration processes and financial matters, please reference the information on this page and not the information in the Policy & Procedures linked below. 

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Maryland Band Directors Association

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Maryland Choral Educators Association

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Maryland Orchestra Directors Association

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Dates & Locations

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The 2024 State Solo & Ensemble Festival will be held in-person only. There will be no live-virtual or recorded submission options.

 

Saturday, May 11, 2024

• String Solo & Ensemble (MODA) - Anne Arundel Community College

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Saturday, May 18, 2024

• Band Solo & Ensemble (MBDA) - Towson University

• Choral Solo & Ensemble (MCEA) - University of Maryland, College Park 

 

Please note: Individual performance times will be released with the schedules. Caregivers will be able to request a time slot during the registration process. Scheduling requests are not guaranteed, however MMEA will work to accommodate as best as possible. 

 

Students performing in more than one solo or ensemble should be sure to coordinate with their fellow performers and accompanists to make sure all of them request the same time. 

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​​Festival Application Timeline

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Educators Complete Invoicing Request Form (Optional)

Monday, March 25
(Invoicing Request Form link was sent to educators and county supervisors/coordinators.)

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State Solo & Ensemble Registration Window 
Wednesday, March 27 to Wednesday, April 17 at 12 pm (noon)

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Schedules Published to the Public/Participants
Wednesday, April 24 to Friday, April 26

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Festival Dates (see locations above)

Strings (MODA) - May 11

Band (MBDA) - May 18

Choral (MCEA) - May 18

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Eligibility

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The eligibility rules for this festival are as follows:

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• To participate in the Maryland State Solo and Ensemble Festival, a student must attend a public, parochial, or independent (private) school in Maryland. Students must be enrolled in a band/chorus/orchestra class in their secondary school in the appropriate grade to participate in statewide activities. If a high school uses an alternative scheduling model, students can participate in the years in which they receive full credit for ensemble classes. Students who do not participate in their school ensemble class are not eligible.

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• Instrumental and vocal students in grades 6-12 who have earned a Superior (I) rating at a 2023-2024 Maryland District Solo and Ensemble Festival may apply for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival on music grades 2 through 6.

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• The performer(s) who qualify at the district level must be the same persons who perform at the state level.

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• One student cannot perform in more than three (3) events.

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• Music educator membership in MMEA/NAfME is not required but encouraged.

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Repertoire

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• All music performed must be listed in the MMEA approved lists for Instrumental or Vocal. On the registration form, list the ID number (column A), title of the piece, and composer/arranger exactly as it appears on the MMEA Repertoire Lists.

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• Performers must present a selection at the same grade level with which they qualified at the district level. 

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• Compositions may not be more than 10 minutes in length. If a composition is over 10 minutes in length, the adjudicator will determine the length of music to be played.

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Music Copyright Rules

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MMEA operates in compliance with the US Copyright Act. A complete measure-numbered score for each ensemble or a measure-numbered original of the solo for each soloist must be provided for the adjudicator. Failure to provide this music may result in a penalty of one rating lower. Anyone using a photocopy of the music that is not in Public Domain will receive a lowered grade unless accompanied by written verification of permission from the publisher. Music purchased online as digital copies should clearly indicate ownership/performance permission.

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Accompaniment

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Students and ensembles must provide their own accompanist. Music with published accompaniments must be included in the performance. Accompanists’ names must be provided in the registration form so that the schedule can be efficient for them.

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CLICK HERE for a Memo Clarifying about Live vs Recorded Accompaniment

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Scales, Rudiments, and Sightreading

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Sight-reading will not be required at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival.

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Scale Requirements for Band & Orchestra (Solo Only) 

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• Band Scale Performance Requirements for Solo Events: All entrants except snare drum and timpani will be asked to perform the chromatic scale and one major scale appropriate for their instruments and grade level of solo performance. Scales will be selected from the following major keys: C, F, G, D, A, E, B flat, E flat, A flat. Scales are to be played evenly and smoothly in a 16th note pattern at a metronome speed of a quarter note = 72. All scales are to be played ascending and descending a minimum of one octave. Flutes and soprano clarinets will perform the scales a minimum of two octaves.

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• Orchestra Scale Performance Requirements for Solo Events: All entrants will be asked to perform the chromatic scale and one major scale on one (1) or two (2) octaves appropriate for the grade level of the solo performance. Major scales will be selected from the following keys: C, G, D, A, F, B Flat, and E Flat. Scales are to be played evenly and smoothly in a 16th note pattern at the metronome speed of a quarter note = 72. All scales are to be played ascending and descending.

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Rating

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Performances will be judged by MMEA qualified adjudicators. Click here for the rubric. 

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Certificates and Comment Sheets

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Certificates and comment/score sheets will be provided to the performers.

 

 

Medals

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Medals will be available for purchase at the event after the students receive their results. Medals for Superior (I) and Excellent (II) ratings can be purchased for $15. Students will show their comment/score sheet to purchase the appropriate medal.

 

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Registration Fee

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$15 for all Solos 

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$20 for all Ensembles (2 more more musicians)

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​All transactions are final and non-refundable. We are unable to offer flexible pricing for the State Solo & Ensemble. 

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Educators - All invoicing requests must be made by Monday, March 25, 2024. The invoicing request form was sent to educators and county supervisors/coordinators. 

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Late Fee Policy - Invoices not paid within 60 days will be assessed a late fee. Invoice totals of $100 or less will be assessed a late fee of $20. Invoices over $100 will be assessed a 20% late fee, not to exceed $500.

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​​Questions and Communication

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To help facilitate this process, caregivers or students may need to communicate with MMEA staff for questions and support. We ask that the student’s music educator be copied on all messages to MMEA to assure transparency and accurate communication. MMEA staff will extend the same courtesy if staff needs to communicate with caregivers.

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Please contact MMEA Staff at mmeamarylandinfo@gmail.com with questions.

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Registration Forms

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Registration is now closed.

 

MMEA Accessibility Request Form (Optional - must be completed by 5 days prior to the event) 

 

MMEA remains committed to advancing diversity and inclusion throughout music education to foster a welcoming and inclusive organization. Integrating the various learning needs and accommodations for students with a disability, IEP, or 504 is of the utmost importance. We continue to develop and implement operational policies and procedures for MMEA programs, products and services.

 

All requests are addressed on a case-by-case basis, and documentation must be provided. Please complete and submit this form to request accommodations.

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