IHSMA State Large Group Festival

Site assignments are in progress.

Site assignments are in progress.

• Complete five years of teaching or instruction in a specialized area of the marching arts
• Complete the “Music Adjudication” course offered through the National Federation of High Schools at nfhslearn.com and send course completion certificate to the IHSMA Office.
• Complete a new W-9 and send it to the IHSMA Office.
• NEW ADJUDICATORS: Request that two (2) currently approved adjudicators for the IHSMA write letters of recommendation for you on your behalf and send them to the IHSMA Office.

The educational value of the State Large Group Festival depends upon knowledgeable, experienced, and respected adjudicators. IHSMA selects adjudicators who possess strong backgrounds in music education and performance, along with the ability to provide objective, constructive, and educationally meaningful evaluations.

State Large Group Festival adjudicators are expected to:

• Hold significant experience as successful band, choir, or orchestra educators and/or conductors.
• Demonstrate expertise in concert literature, rehearsal techniques, ensemble pedagogy, and performance practices appropriate to the performing medium.
• Evaluate performances consistently using the official IHSMA adjudication criteria and festival standards.
• Recognize achievement while providing specific, actionable feedback that supports continued musical growth.
• Maintain professional objectivity and evaluate performances without bias toward school size, geographic location, or organizational reputation.
• Communicate observations clearly through both written evaluations and recorded verbal commentary that directors can use as instructional resources.
• Participate in IHSMA adjudicator training, calibration, and professional development to promote statewide consistency in evaluations.
• Complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Music Adjudication course and maintain current certification as required by IHSMA.
• Adhere to the IHSMA Code of Ethics, demonstrating professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and respect for students and directors throughout the festival process.

The role of an IHSMA adjudicator extends beyond assigning ratings. Adjudicators serve as experienced music educators whose primary responsibility is to provide feedback that reinforces effective teaching, encourages artistic growth, and helps ensembles continue developing throughout the school year. Their evaluations should recognize musical achievement while identifying opportunities for continued improvement, ensuring every festival performance remains an educational experience.

The State Large Group Festival is designed first and foremost as an educational experience. Every comment, score, and rating is intended to support student learning, strengthen ensemble performance, and provide directors with meaningful information that can guide future instruction.

The most valuable outcome of the festival is the feedback provided by the adjudication panel. Through recorded verbal commentary and written evaluations, adjudicators identify an ensemble’s strengths, recognize musical achievement, and offer specific suggestions for continued growth. Directors often use this feedback as a teaching resource throughout the remainder of the school year.

Each adjudicator evaluates the performance using established IHSMA criteria that focus on the essential elements of ensemble musicianship, including:

• Tone quality
• Intonation
• Rhythm and precision
• Balance and blend
• Technique
• Interpretation and musical expression
• Ensemble unity
• Overall artistic performance

Based on these evaluations, adjudicators assign scores that reflect how effectively the ensemble demonstrated these performance standards. Those scores contribute to the ensemble’s overall festival rating.

Ratings are not intended to rank schools or compare one ensemble against another. Instead, they recognize the degree to which an ensemble meets established standards of musical excellence. Every ensemble is evaluated on its own performance and musical achievement.

Students and directors should view ratings as one part of a much larger educational process. A single performance captures only one moment in an ensemble’s musical journey. Preparation, rehearsal habits, artistic growth, teamwork, and continuous improvement are equally important measures of success.

Families and communities are encouraged to celebrate the dedication, discipline, and musical accomplishments represented by every festival performance. The rating acknowledges the performance, but the lasting value comes from the learning, growth, and shared musical experience that students gain through the preparation and performance process.

At its core, the State Large Group Festival exists to encourage excellence, inspire continuous improvement, and reinforce IHSMA’s commitment to providing meaningful educational experiences for every participating ensemble.

Festival day is the culmination of weeks and months of preparation with your ensemble. It is an opportunity to perform the music you have worked so hard to prepare, represent your school with pride, and receive valuable feedback from experienced music educators.

While every festival site operates on its own schedule, the day generally follows the same sequence of events:

1. Arrival and Check-In
   Your director will check in your ensemble while students unload equipment, gather music and instruments, and prepare for the performance. Festival staff and volunteers will help direct your group through the day’s schedule.
2. Warm-Up
   Before performing, your ensemble will have a designated warm-up period. This is your opportunity to focus, make final musical adjustments, and prepare mentally and physically for your performance.
3. Performance
   Your ensemble will move to the performance venue, take the stage efficiently, and perform its prepared concert selections. A panel of experienced IHSMA adjudicators will evaluate the performance while recording educational comments that your director will receive after the performance.
4. Sight Reading (Band, Orchestra, and Choir)
   Following the concert performance, ensembles participate in a sight-reading evaluation. Students receive a piece of music they have never seen before and are given a brief rehearsal period before performing it. This portion of the festival evaluates fundamental musicianship, music-reading skills, ensemble communication, and the ability to apply rehearsal techniques in real time.
5. Conclusion of the Festival Experience
   After completing all required performance components, your ensemble will pack equipment, receive performance materials as directed by the festival schedule, and prepare for departure. Directors receive the adjudicators’ ratings, recorded comments, and written evaluations to use as instructional resources following the festival.

Throughout the day, students should remain focused, respectful, and supportive of one another. Follow your director’s instructions, stay with your ensemble, and be prepared to transition efficiently between each part of the schedule.

Most importantly, remember that the State Large Group Festival is an educational experience. Your goal is not perfection—it is to perform with confidence, communicate through music, and demonstrate the growth your ensemble has achieved throughout the school year. Every performance is an opportunity to learn, celebrate your accomplishments, and continue developing as a musician.

The State Large Group Festival is the culmination of months of preparation, rehearsal, and collaboration with your ensemble. Festival day is an opportunity to share your musical accomplishments in a professional performance setting while receiving educational feedback from experienced music educators.

When your ensemble arrives, your director will guide you through the festival schedule, including check-in, equipment unloading (if applicable), warm-up, performance, and departure. Festival hosts and volunteers will assist with logistics to help the day run efficiently and on schedule.

Prior to your performance, your ensemble will have a designated warm-up period to prepare mentally and musically. This is your opportunity to focus, listen carefully, make final adjustments, and prepare to perform with confidence.

When it is your performance time, you will enter the performance venue, take the stage efficiently, and perform your prepared concert selections. Your director will introduce the ensemble as appropriate, and the performance will proceed without interruption. Throughout the performance, a panel of experienced IHSMA adjudicators will evaluate your ensemble using the official festival criteria while recording educational comments that your director will receive following the performance.

After your performance, your ensemble will leave the stage promptly so the next group can prepare. Depending on the festival format and site schedule, directors will receive recorded adjudicator commentaryThe State Large Group Festival is the culmination of months of preparation, rehearsal, and collaboration with your ensemble. Festival day is an opportunity to share your musical accomplishments in a professional performance setting while receiving educational feedback from experienced music educators.

When your ensemble arrives, your director will guide you through the festival schedule, including check-in, equipment unloading (if applicable), warm-up, performance, and departure. Festival hosts and volunteers will assist with logistics to help the day run efficiently and on schedule.

Prior to your performance, your ensemble will have a designated warm-up period to prepare mentally and musically. This is your opportunity to focus, listen carefully, make final adjustments, and prepare to perform with confidence.

When it is your performance time, you will enter the performance venue, take the stage efficiently, and perform your prepared concert selections. Your director will introduce the ensemble as appropriate, and the performance will proceed without interruption. Throughout the performance, a panel of experienced IHSMA adjudicators will evaluate your ensemble using the official festival criteria while recording educational comments that your director will receive following the performance.

After your performance, your ensemble will leave the stage promptly so the next group can prepare. Depending on the festival format and site schedule, directors will receive recorded adjudicator commentary and the ensemble’s rating after the performance or at the conclusion of the festival session.

Most importantly, remember that the festival is designed to be an educational experience—not simply a rating event. The goal is to showcase your preparation, perform to the best of your ability, and gain valuable feedback that will help your ensemble continue growing as musicians.

Approach the day with confidence, professionalism, and pride. Every rehearsal, every section practice, and every performance has prepared you for this opportunity to represent your school, your director, and your community through outstanding music-making.

IHSMA adjudicators are experienced music educators who evaluate performances using educational standards that reflect quality ensemble musicianship. Their role is not to compare your ensemble to another school, but to evaluate how effectively your ensemble performs the music you have prepared and to provide feedback that supports continued growth.

Throughout your performance, adjudicators listen for a combination of technical accuracy, musical expression, and ensemble communication. They consider how successfully your ensemble demonstrates the skills developed throughout the rehearsal process.

Key areas of evaluation include:

• Tone Quality – A characteristic, mature sound that is appropriate for your ensemble and musical style.
• Intonation – Consistent pitch accuracy within sections and throughout the entire ensemble.
• Rhythm and Tempo – Steady pulse, rhythmic precision, and unified execution of the composer’s intentions.
• Balance and Blend – Appropriate relationships between sections and voices so important musical lines are heard while maintaining a cohesive ensemble sound.
• Technique – Accurate execution of notes, articulations, diction (for choirs), bowing (for orchestras), stick control (for percussion), and other performance fundamentals.
• Interpretation and Musical Expression – Dynamic contrast, phrasing, style, articulation, tempo choices, and expressive communication that bring the music to life.
• Ensemble Precision – Clean attacks, releases, transitions, and unified performance throughout the ensemble.
• Stage Presence and Professionalism – Appropriate concert etiquette, focus, posture, and respectful behavior before, during, and after the performance.
• Overall Musical Effect – The degree to which the ensemble communicates the artistic intent of the music while demonstrating confidence, preparation, and musical understanding.

Adjudicators also recognize qualities that cannot be measured by notes and rhythms alone. They listen for expressive playing and singing, thoughtful interpretation, emotional connection, stylistic authenticity, and the musical maturity that develops through careful rehearsal and committed ensemble performance.

Remember that adjudicators want you to succeed. Their comments are intended to reinforce the strengths of your performance while identifying opportunities for continued improvement. Every evaluation is designed to help you and your ensemble become stronger musicians.

The most successful festival performances are not necessarily perfect—they are performances that demonstrate careful preparation, teamwork, artistic commitment, and a genuine desire to communicate through music. Those qualities are at the heart of the State Large Group Festival experience.

As a participant in the IHSMA State Large Group Festival, you represent your school, your music program, your director, and your community. Professionalism, respect, and personal responsibility are essential parts of the festival experience and contribute to a positive environment for every participating ensemble.

Students are expected to:

• Arrive on time and be fully prepared with all required music, instruments, equipment, and performance attire.
• Follow the directions of your director, festival hosts, and event staff throughout the day.
• Remain attentive and focused during warm-up, stage transitions, and the performance.
• Demonstrate proper concert etiquette by maintaining appropriate posture, minimizing unnecessary movement, and remaining engaged from the first note until the performance has concluded.
• Treat performance venues, warm-up areas, equipment, and school facilities with care and respect.
• Support fellow ensemble members through encouragement, cooperation, and positive teamwork.
• Show courtesy and appreciation to adjudicators, volunteers, host schools, and other participating ensembles.
• Follow all school and IHSMA expectations regarding student conduct, safety, and appropriate use of electronic devices.

Professionalism also extends beyond your own performance. Many students have the opportunity to listen to other ensembles throughout the day. When attending another performance, be an outstanding audience member by entering and exiting only at appropriate times, remaining quiet during performances, silencing electronic devices, and applauding respectfully at the conclusion of each performance.

Festival day can include moments of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Maintaining a positive attitude, encouraging your fellow musicians, and responding respectfully regardless of your ensemble’s rating are hallmarks of excellent musicianship. How you conduct yourself before, during, and after your performance reflects the character of your ensemble just as much as the music you perform.

The State Large Group Festival celebrates excellence in both musicianship and character. Students who demonstrate integrity, respect, responsibility, and professionalism help create an environment where every ensemble can perform at its best and where music education continues to thrive across Iowa.

The IHSMA State Large Group Festival is about far more than earning a rating. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the results of months of dedicated rehearsal, musical growth, and teamwork while experiencing the satisfaction of performing at your highest level.

Unlike many performance events, the State Large Group Festival is built on an educational philosophy. Your ensemble is evaluated against established standards of musical excellence—not in direct competition with other schools. Every performance is an opportunity to receive meaningful feedback from experienced music educators who are committed to helping ensembles continue to grow.

Preparing for the festival teaches lessons that extend well beyond music. You learn how individual preparation contributes to collective success, how discipline and consistency lead to improvement, and how every member of an ensemble plays an important role in the final performance. The skills you develop through this process—collaboration, responsibility, perseverance, communication, attention to detail, and leadership—will benefit you throughout your education and future career.

The festival also provides the opportunity to perform quality concert literature that challenges you as a musician and deepens your understanding of artistic expression. Through rehearsal and performance, you develop stronger technical skills while learning to communicate emotion, style, and meaning through music.

Perhaps most importantly, the State Large Group Festival reminds you that music is a shared experience. Every rehearsal, every performance, and every moment on stage is the result of students working together toward a common artistic goal. Those shared experiences create friendships, strengthen school communities, and produce memories that often last a lifetime.

Whether your ensemble earns its highest rating or simply performs its very best, your success is measured by the growth you achieve throughout the journey. The confidence you build, the musicianship you develop, and the commitment you demonstrate are lasting outcomes that extend far beyond a single festival performance.

The State Large Group Festival celebrates excellence while reinforcing the values that define outstanding music education: preparation, collaboration, artistic expression, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of your very best.