Eligibility Requirements
MSVMA membership schools are encouraged to participate in District Choral Festivals. Students should be enrolled in grades 6 to 12 and members in good standing in their school's vocal music program.  Choirs must be comprised of 17 or more students.

Junior high/middle school choirs are encouraged to enter junior high school or senior high festivals. Ninth grade students should perform at the same level in all events throughout the year and are expected to meet the performance standards of the level in which they participate.

Repertoire

• Each choir must perform two selections.  
• One selection must be from the approved repertoire list. (click to view MSVMA's Required Repertoire Lists)
• Repertoire is arranged by voicing and divided into levels of difficulty: Primary, Intermediate and Advanced. 
  
• The director may enter the choir at the level his/her group can succeed. Primary level high school choirs of all voicings are allowed to use pieces from the JH/MS advanced list for required Festival pieces and junior high/middle school choirs may select from the high school primary list.
  
• Popular show tunes, vocal jazz, barbershop, gospel or novelty selections are not to be used. 
  
• Choreography is not allowed.

Performance

• District Festival participation includes warm-up, performance, clinic and sight reading.
• Every attempt will be made to honor performance date and time request.  Schools sending multiple groups cannot be assured of same day scheduling. 
  
• Choirs may be scheduled to sing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Accompanists must have original copies of selections.
• Choirs must provide four original scores of the selections with measures numbered for the adjudicators. Failure to do so will result in a ‘no final determination’ rating.
• The use of musical scores during performance is optional.
  
• Performances will be recorded.
• When performing music requiring accompaniment, live accompaniment must be used, unless it is avant garde or 21st century music requiring electronic or taped accompaniment as part of the composer's compositional and performance intent.
• Allotted performance time includes stage entrance and exit.
• Any changes in the literature must be emailed to the District Manager one week prior to the first day of the Festival.  Changes in repertoire after this date will result in a "no final determination" rating.

Sight Reading

All choirs are required to sight read at District Choral Festival, regardless of whether they are participating for a Final Determination or Comments Only. Choirs attending for Comments Only may request a clinic experience from the sight reading adjudicator.

Click the following Sight Reading Guidelines 

Adjudication

Choirs receives adjudication from three performance adjudicators and one sight reading adjudicator. Written comments will support the scoring decisions of the adjudicators.

Directors are encouraged to complete an online Adjudicator Performance Evaluation immediately following a Festival. Adjudicators will not see the actual evaluation and director identification. A summary of the adjudicator's evaluations will be shared with him/her at the end of the school year.

Transfers

If a school wishes to transfer to another district for district festival, the following steps must be completed:

• Contact your district managers and those of the district that you wish to transfer to and explain your request. Permission must be granted by all district managers involved.
  
• Once permission from all district managers has been obtained, submit the District Event Transfer Form by November 15. Click to access the form.
• Shortly after November 15, the president elect will review requests and inform the applicants of the decision.

Registration requirements

• A completed and signed registration form should be postmarked or hand delivered to the District Manager.  Fees and deadlines are determined by each District. Please consult your District Page for details.
  
• Registration is completed online using the Festival Scheduler.  Online scheduling questions should be directed to Andrea Gay at AndreaGay@msvma.org.
  
• In signing the registration form, the principal and the director agree to supervise the students from their school to ensure proper conduct at the Festival. Improper student conduct may result in sanctions by the MSVMA Executive Board.
• Choirs must pay fees at the time of registration. Invoices must have all the required signatures to be accepted. Purchase orders will not be accepted. 
• Payment should be made by school check or director’s personal check payable to MSVMA and must be postmarked by the deadline. Fees are non-refundable.
• Failure to meet established district deadlines will result in your events not being scheduled or an additional late registration fee per your District policy.
  

Participants with a Final Determination of Division I - Excellent or Division II - Good may purchase medals for $4 each.

Choirs receiving Excellent ratings may purchase an awards plaque. Orders can be placed through the State Office using the Choral Festival Plaque Order Form.  

Choirs receiving a final determination of Excellent at District Choral Festival shall qualify to participate in State Choral Festival

JHMS State Choral Festival Information

HS State Choral Festival Information