High School Music Festivals and Honor Groups

  • Solo and Ensemble Festival

    This Festival provides students the opportunity to perform alone or in a small group for an adjudicator. Independent musicianship is fostered as students are allowed to make their own musical choices and to be evaluated and recognized apart from their school music classes. Students may choose repertoire entirely different from that which is studied in a large ensemble setting and from a more varied range of styles. Please choose music that is on the ASD Solo and Ensemble Approved Repertoire List. To request approval of a piece not on the list, contact the Fine Arts Department.

     

    Adjudicators are professional musicians from the community or qualified guests from outside the community. Adjudicators provide valuable feedback, contributing to the student’s continued musical development. Students receive a rating of I to V, with I being the highest. Adjudicators also offer written comments and generally also give verbal feedback if time permits. Students who receive a I rating are eligible to participate in the . 

     

    Adjudication is offered in the following areas: Vocal, Show Choir or Music Theater, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Piano, Jazz Vocal Solo, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Instrumental Solo, Jazz Instrumental Ensemble. 

     

    Students may enter a maximum of four different events. For example, a student could enter one violin solo, a duet and a trio. Students should not enter more than one event of the same instrumentation or personnel (two vocal solos by the same student or two string trios of the same students would not be allowed). Ensembles should not exceed 12 students. Music selections can not be longer than six minutes. Students must provide their adjudicator with an original, published copy of the music that they will be performing, with all measures numbered. Non-copyrighted music should be clearly marked “Public Domain.”

     

    Students must be enrolled in, and an active member of, the corresponding music performance ensemble at their school and in good standing with the ensemble director. Students enrolled in a non-performance course, such as guitar, may participate in Solo and Ensemble at a director’s discretion. Music teachers will provide students with detailed information regarding the Solo and Ensemble Festival, including a . Students must complete an online Activity Registration and meet eligibility standards - except for the physician's clearance - as described on page 15 of the High School Activities Handbook. There is no activity fee. Contact your school's activites office for more information.

     

    For festival date and location information, please see the Fine Arts Calendar (link on main menu).

     

    State Solo and Ensemble Festival

    Alaska high school music students who receive a I rating in their local high school solo and ensemble festivals are eligible to participate in the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. This event is sponsored by the Alaska State Activities Association (ASAA). 

     

    ASD high school music teachers will provide eligible students with application forms. Forms are also available at .

     

    For festival date and location information, please see the Fine Arts Calendar (link on main menu).

     

    High School ASAA Music Participation Policy - updated May 2023

    In order for a student to participate in the ASAA All-State or ASAA Solo/Ensemble Music Festival, he or she must meet all eligibility requirements and be currently enrolled in the corresponding music performance ensemble at their school of eligibility. Exceptions can be made for piano/guitar/harp at the director's discretion. Any further exceptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the school director, school activities AP, and the ASD Assistant Director of Music.

     

    High School Large Group Band, Choir and Orchestra festival/contests

    Each year, high school bands, choirs and orchestras have the opportunity to perform in an adjudicated setting.  A judge will listen, make comments and work with the group to help elevate there musical knowledge and performance level.  Additionally, these festivals provide the opportunity for high school students to perform for and listen to their peers from other schools.

     

    These festivals include the most advanced ensemble from each ASD high school. The Band Festival, for example, features the symphonic band from each school. 

     

    For large group festival dates, please see the Fine Arts Calendar (link on main menu).

     

    All-State Band, Choir and Orchestra

     

    High School ASAA Music Participation Policy - updated May 2023

    In order for a student to participate in the ASAA All-State or ASAA Solo/Ensemble Music Festival, he or she must meet all eligibility requirements and be currently enrolled in the corresponding music performance ensemble at their school of eligibility. Exceptions can be made for piano/guitar/harp at the director's discretion. Any further exceptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the school director, school activities AP, and the ASD Assistant Director of Music.