Contact Us directly if your question is not answered
below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I
enter a festival?
Your Band or Orchestra Director will
provide you with an entry form and tell
you the date and location of the
festival that your school will
participate in this year. Fill out
this form and return it to your Director
on or before the due date they give you.
After that, just find an accompanist and
practice! Everything else will be
handled by your Director and they will
let you know when your schedule has been
posted to this website.
Because each district is unique, it
is best to use the form provided by your
Band or Orchestra Director but a
generic PDF copy of the entry form is
also available for reference by pressing
the button below.
2. Is it necessary that I have an
accompanist?
Not all performances require piano
accompaniment but any student performing a solo, or students
performing in an ensemble must have an
accompanist if the piece being performed
requires one. Such a student without
an accompanist may be allowed to play,
but will receive comments only from the
adjudicator and no rating.
Recorded accompaniment is acceptable, as long
as the performer brings any equipment
necessary to play
the recording, and can operate it himself/herself
or has someone to operate it for him/her.
See your music director or private
teacher for help in finding
an accompanist or press the button below to
see a list of available accompanists.
3. When and where will the festivals
occur?
The festivals occur each
Spring but the exact dates vary by district
and year. In Fairfax and Arlington, the string festivals are held
on a Friday afternoon and evening. The
band festivals are held all day on a
Saturday. In Loudoun County, both festivals occur on Saturday. The locations for the next
festivals are shown on the home page.
4. How do I choose an approved piece
of music?
The best places to get music
recommendations are from your Director
and private music teacher.
VBODA has posted a list of music on
their website that you can use for
reference.
5. Is there a limit
to how many solos and/or ensembles I can
participate in?
No. Many students participate
in multiple performances and we work
hard to make sure you and your
accompanist are not scheduled to be in
more than one place at a time.
6. How much does it cost to participate?
The entry fee for each festival
varies somewhat by district and year, but is
around
$15 for a solo and less per person for an
ensemble. Each school collects their
own entry fees, so see your director for the
details. There is also the cost
of an accompanist if you need one.
7. Can I give the judge a photocopy of the
music?
No. The judge must have an original with the
measures numbered. The student may
play from a photocopy, but that photocopy
must be destroyed at the conclusion of the
festival.
8. Will the ratings of performances be
posted on this website?
No. The ratings will be posted at
the festival as soon as they are available
after each performance. If you cannot wait
to see your rating at the festival, then
you can get it from your music director the
next week.
9. Is there a dress code for the
festival?
While there is no specific dress code
for your performance, a clean
professional appearance will convey your
committment to and respect for the
festival and everyone involved in making
it a great experience for you.
For specific guidance, please talk to
your Director.