2023 STATE SOLO CONTEST REGULATIONS

1. This will be a solo & ensemble contest. To qualify for participation, a student must:
• Be eligible for and participate in their District Solo/Ensemble Festival
• Perform a solo or ensemble from the IMEA State Vocal Solo List or the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List. All instruments solos must come from the Texas List, Grade 1. Vocal solos must come from the Idaho List and vocal soloists must use the edition listed. All ensembles must come from the Texas List, Grade 1. The Texas list is updated each year by September 1st, so be sure to check it after that date for additions and deletions.
• Be placed in the top two instrumental soloists or ensembles for each category or the top three vocal soloists or ensembles for each category in the District, at the festival director's discretion.
• Students must perform the same solo or ensemble at the State Solo Contest that they used to qualify at the District Festival. Total time limit for each performer will be: vocal-8 minutes; instrumental-10 minutes; string-12 (which includes tuning). Electronic timers will be used by Room Monitors to ensure that time limits will not be exceeded. No student will be allowed to perform before their scheduled time. Digital Clocks will be provided each performance area and will be synchronized with the Tabulation Room Clock. “Smart Music” or similar computer generated accompaniment may be used, but the program and all equipment, (computer, speakers, microphone, extension cords, etc.) must be furnished by the student and no extra time for set up or tear down is allowed, they must stay within their time limits. Recorded, i.e. CD, MP3, etc. accompaniments are not allowed. The accompaniment must follow the performer, not vice versa.
• All ensemble members must be enrolled at the same school.
• All ensembles may only have one person on each part.
2. Judges at District Music Festivals (i.e. Districts I-VI and Gem State) will prepare prioritized lists, by category, of all students who have entered the State Solo & Ensemble Contest at the district level. The first two students in instrumental categories and the first three for vocal categories on each list will represent their District at the State Solo & Ensemble Contest at the festival directors discretion. The remainder of each list will be alternates and may be selected by the State Contest Chair to fill vacancies in their category not used by other Districts. In the event that there are more vacancies than alternates, the 1st alternate from each District will be selected. If there are more 1st alternates than vacancies, then none will be selected. It is possible that a District may send several entrants in a given category if there are not qualified entrants and alternates from other districts.
3. The following categories are available: (NOTE: All ensembles can have no more that one on a part. For example, an Octet means 8 people each performing on their own part. No doubling. Also, ensembles may not be led by a director)
• Woodwind: Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
• Woodwind Ensembles: Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Octet.
• Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• String Ensembles: Duet, Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Octet.
• Percussion: Snare Drum (Concert or Rudimental), Keyboard Percussion (Xylophone, Marimba, or Vibraphone), Multiple Percussion/Drum Set, Timpani
• Percussion Ensembles: Small Ensemble (2-8 players). Large Ensemble (9-12 players). Ensembles may not be led by a director".
• Brass: Trumpet/Cornet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium/Baritone, Tuba
• Brass Ensembles: Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Octet.
• Voice: Soprano, Mezzo, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass.
• Vocal Ensembles: Vocal ensembles will be categorized in only 3 groups: Mixed (treble and bass), Non-mixed Treble, and Non-mixed Baritone/Bass. No duets. No more than one person on a part. The piece cannot be something that the students have previously performed with their school's large ensembles. Ensembles may not be led by a director.
4. Students may enter more than one category, but may not participate in more than one vocal solo category.
5. Each soloist and ensemble at the state contest will be judged by at least two category competent judges.
6. Judges will award points to each participant using the adjudication forms provided. Selection of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and a 4th place winner in vocal categories will be determined using the judges score. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and vocal 4th place winners will receive medals. All contest participants will receive a certificate of participation.
7. Students are not allowed to perform any solo or ensemble more than once during their school career. A different State Solo or Ensemble must be learned each year they compete which means that a different State Solo Number from the official State Solo Music List must be used each year. For example, if a student performs only one movement from a concerto or one selection from a collection, they must choose an entirely new concerto or collection to play as all other movements/selections have the same State Solo number. The student's director will verify that the selection has not been performed by this student at a prior State Solo & Ensemble Contest.
8. Memorization is required for all vocal solos and is encouraged but optional for instrumental solos.
9. For adjudication purposes, soloists and ensembles shall furnish a (1) published score of the music. All measures need to be numbered and the contestant's number placed on the title page. NO STUDENT OR SCHOOL NAMES ARE TO BE WRITTEN ON THE MUSIC. The contestant number will be used to return the scores. Photocopies are prohibited unless accompanied by a permission letter from the copyright holder (publisher) making it a permissible copy. Furnishing an illegal photocopy will disqualify the participant.
10. The Student Entry Forms must be completed on line by the directors of the student participants after they have been selected for the state competition. Students are not allowed to compete their form but they are required to type an electronic signature verifying information. Directors that are not members of IMEA must contact the IMEA Web Master to receive needed information prior to registering their students. Instructions for completion are on the web site. The contestant's individual Student Entry Forms for all participants must be completed and submitted on line within one week following the District Solo/Ensemble Festival but no later than the first Monday of April. Participant's fees must follow within one week of submission of the on-line form or that district's contestants may not be allowed to perform. Checks should be made payable to IMEA - State Solo and mailed to: Karen Randolph, IMEA Exeuctive Director, 1412 Clearwater Way, Twin Falls, ID 83301. School Districts may pay for all students fees from their school in one check but please list who the check is paying for. Forms for alternates must be completed within one week of notification that they have been entered into the State Solo & Ensemble Contest. Fees for alternates may be paid at a later time, but before the contestant performs.
11. Each contestant must pay a non-refundable participation fee, only checks made payable to IMEA-State Solo will be accepted. The fee structure for students whose directors are members of IMEA is: Early Bird Fee = $45.00; Fees postmarked after April 25th = $70.00. The fee structure for student's whose directors are not members of IMEA is: Early Bird Fee = $156.00; Fees postmarked after April 25th = $181.00. Students must secure their own transportation to the contest site. Alternates will pay the Early Bird Fee. Parents, booster clubs, or schools may assist. Students should be properly chaperoned and appropriately involved in contest activities. If you need an invoice to facilitate payment, you may download it HERE.
12. District Presidents or District Festival managers should forward via email the District Prioritized Lists Excel file listing all qualifying students and potential alternates from their District who qualify to the State Solo Chair within three days of their Solo & Ensemble festival but no later than the first Monday of April, (postmark determines date of mailing).
13. Awards will be announced and medals given at the end of the event in an Awards Ceremony. Complete results of the contest will be posted by contestant number on the IMEA Web Site within one week following the contest.