The ISSMA District Solo & Ensemble Festival will be Saturday, January 27 at AIS Diamond in Evansville, IN. It is your responsibility to know your music and review the following material. If you have any questions, please ask for clarification. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and want you to be successful!
JURY
All Soloists will perform in-class during the week of January 22. Students in the audience will write feedback, and you’ll have a short clinic with Mr. Knight. Your music must be sufficiently learned (memorization is not required at District). No one will be voting – “jury” is a music performance term. Mr. Knight will screen students before Contest to help with performance readiness.
TRANSPORTATION
You are responsible for your own transportation to AIS Diamond in Evansville. The address is 2319 Stringtown Rd, Evansville, IN 47711. You should plan to arrive 45-60 minutes before your scheduled performance time to allow for traffic, warm-up, and locating the room. We’ve been warned that parking is limited, so please use the Northeast and South parking lots – avoid parking at the bank! Entryway doors 1, 6, 11, 31, 32, 33 will be open for this event (see map).
ORIGINAL COPIES
Each singer must have an original copy of their music with all measures numbered. Mr. Knight will have all numbered, original music at your room approximately 5-10 minutes before you sing. Some students are singing from the same book, so please be patient. If your music hasn’t arrived, kindly tell the room supervisor that your music is being used by another student but it’s on the way.
SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS
Please be outside your performance room at least 10 minutes early to check-in. Please do not be worried if Mr. Knight or Mrs. Bechtel are late – do not call us. If we have not arrived by your scheduled performance time, please kindly tell the room supervisor that you are waiting for your accompanist. Similarly, be ready to sing early if your accompanist and the judge are ready.
WARM-UP
You should plan to have at least 20-30 minutes to thoroughly warm-up before your performance. Remember your physical stretches, breathing exercises, sirens, etc. (our normal warmup routine from class.) Mr. Knight will not be available to warm up your voice. You will be sharing your warm-up room with others – do not be afraid to make sounds in front of them!
ATTIRE
Women’s Chorus members should wear their black Choir dress with black shoes and red scarf. Men should wear their tux with a red tie (I will have extras). Soloists may wear business formal attire of their choice, but I recommend staying in the same attire if you’re short on time. Remember that your clothes must be more than school-appropriate; they must be performance-appropriate and professional. Shoulders, chest, and legs should be covered (to the knee). Gentlemen should be in a tie, dress shirt, and slacks at the least. Jewelry should be limited and conservative. Hair should be pulled out of the face with a ponytail or other design.
CONCESSIONS
If you want concessions, EVSC will have some items available for lunch and snacking. You must bring your own money if you wish to buy anything (estimate $10.)
PERFORMANCES
It is very important that you do not interrupt a performance once it has begun. There will be room monitors who will prevent anyone from entering the room after a student begins singing. Usually, the only people in the room are the judge, the judge’s assistant, Mr. Knight, Mrs. Bechtel, and your parents/friends who you invite.
MEDALS/AWARDS
5-10 minutes after you perform, you will receive a voucher card indicating your rating of Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Participation. That voucher card should be presented to the Medal Table before you leave to receive the appropriate award. Your judge’s comments will not be available until we return to school the following week.
STATE QUALIFICATIONS
Group 1 soloists/ensembles who achieve a Gold rating will advance to state on Saturday, February 17 at Perry Meridian HS in Indianapolis. Mr. Knight will pay the initial deposit but advancing students will need to pay $35/solo and $10/ensemble by Feb. 16. All Women’s Chorus members will have the opportunity to advance regardless of age. Men’s Chorus cannot go to state. More info on State later…