SP 2026 SOLO AND ENSEMBLE STUDENTS !!
SP 2025 SOLO AND ENSEMBLE STUDENTS !!
Registration form
Tips for a successful Solo-
- Learn to count all rhythms, get help if you do not know/understand them
- Finger through all passages with a metronome
- Listen to recordings of the piece. A “smartmusic” recording (if the solo is on smartmusic) will be be posted here:
- JMMS kids- you will perform with an accompanist. MNH kids- you will perform with an accompanist.
- If you need the piano part, and want to use your own accompanist, let me know.
- HS list- select solos and ensembles from this list.
Events and links
Help TImes
During help sessions- All Students are expected to stay in band and choir room areas of the school. Do not go to other parts of the school.
MNHHS ITINERARY
Performance times and room locations
MNHHS
JMMS
BSMS
MNHHS JMMS BSMS Results
INfo from Festival Chairs
Solo & Ensemble Info 2026
Directors,
Below is information about Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, April 25th at McLean County Middle School (1901 KY-136, Calhoun, KY 42327)
Directors,
Below is information about Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, April 25th at McLean County Middle School (1901 KY-136, Calhoun, KY 42327)
- Schedule: Times and room numbers for your students’ events have been emailed. Please double check to make sure your students’ information is correct and we have not missed any entries. We will try to keep as close as possible to the schedule. Please advise your students to be at their room 10-15 minutes before their scheduled time. If they miss their time—they will have to wait until there is an open time in the schedule. If there is an open time or the room is running ahead of schedule, we do not mind students going out of order. However, if there is a student there at their scheduled time, they will be first. DO NOT CHANGE A STUDENT TO ANOTHER ROOM WITHOUT CLEARING IT WITH RYAN OR SAWYER. THEY WILL ARRANGE IT WITH THE JUDGE IF AN EVENT IS MOVING SLOW (WHICH SHOULD BE VERY RARE). DIRECTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE VERBAL CONTACT/EXCHANGES WITH THE JUDGES DURING THE EVENT.
- Floor plan (see below) Brass are on one wing of the school & woodwinds are on another. Percussion will be in the band room. Please ask your students to stay out of areas of the school not designated for Solo and Ensemble on the maps. Please ask your chaperones to keep an eye on your students. Rooms are as follows; (see map)
- Parking-Buses should enter the McLean County HIGH School bus ramp and drive down to MCMS. Cars can park in the MCMS side parking lot. Buses park in the front of the MS (between MS & HWY 136)
- Warm-Up- Warm up in the gym. Please ask students to not go onto the mezzanine in the gym. Please ask your students not to play in the hallways, cafeteria, and courtyard in order not to disrupt others. Percussionists should play on practice pads—not floors, walls, lockers, cafeteria tables, etc.
- Media Center- The Media Center is where you will pick up evaluation sheets. There will be refreshments for you—bus drivers may wait in the media center as well. No parents, students, etc… are to be in the Media Center. Please advise your students that you will find them to let them know how they did. If you have cancellations, please go to each room and tell the room monitors that you have cancellations.
- Percussion - the only percussion instruments that will be available are
- One Bass drum, 4 timpani (all have gauges), One set of Bells, One Xylophone, One Vibraphone, One Marimba, One set of Chimes, One Gong, No other percussion instruments, mallets, sticks, or beaters will be available including snare drums so please plan to bring your own.
- Rules-please review the rules and regulations on the KMEA website. Judges must have an original copy of the music with the measures numbered. There will not be a copier available. All parts must be covered for all ensembles. The maximum playing time is 6 minutes per event—students may be cut off if they go over the 6 minutes. Please take a minute to go over the rules on the KMEA website-- in particular the approved instrumental ensembles. Please don’t put the judges in a situation where they have to give “comments only” because the rules were not followed.
- Judges: Ross Pendleton (percussion), Megan Watson(WW), Dr. Stephanie Carlson(WW), Tim Zeiss(WW), April Yonts(WW), David Graham(Brass), Addison Grimm(Brass), and Brandon McKinley(Brass).
- Audience-We are going to leave it up to your students if they mind having students, parents or friends in the room as they perform. We suggest only performers in the room.
- Pianos-There will be a piano or keyboard for events that requested one.
- Concessions- Please inform your students that we will have concessions in the Cafeteria. ALL FOOD MUST STAY IN CAFETERIA. Menu: Pizza, Hotdogs, Popcorn?, Candy, Chips, Granola Bars, Water, Soft drinks.
- Dress- You may want to remind your students that the judges will see them. Remind them that there is a line for “Stage Presence” on the evaluation sheet.
- All rooms are wheelchair/handicap accessible.
