We are still in the full-swing of choir festival season here in Michigan.  We usually wrap up our state-level adjudicated festivals around early to mid-May.  I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of adjudicating both district and state-level Solo and Ensemble festivals and Choral Festivals this year.  If you haven’t taken your choirs to an adjudicated festival, you might be wondering “what’s the point?”

Festivals have registration fees, music and accompanist costs, and transportation woes.  Sometimes it feels like an uphill battle to get our students to these events.  Not to mention facing our insecurities as a director…. Imposter Syndrome is a thing my friends!  Let’s explore some reasons why it’s SO IMPORTANT that you take your singers to these events:

Allows the opportunity to see and hear other choirs.

As school choir directors, we sometimes live in a bubble.  We might be the only choir directors at our school, or even the district.  Our choirs can then exist in a bubble too, if we don’t the capabilities of bringing in outside clinicians and guest.  Giving students the opportunity to hear choirs from other schools can be so powerful!  (My favorite part is when you have been harping on a particular performance aspect, and then they watch another choir and finally “see” it for themselves.  Victory!

Provides the opportunity to hear clinicians work with other ensembles.

There is just as much to be gained and learned from watching a clinician work with another choir.  Your students will come home with lots of new ideas!

Encourages high-level goal-setting. 

We ALWAYS have goals and standards for our students.  But truthfully, adjudicated choir festivals can add a new element of pressure.  While this is a double-edged sword, I choose to look at it as extra encouragement to ensure that my choirs are on the top of their game. 

Facilitates standard and rubric-based assessment.

Creative arts and music are subjective.  And while there is some danger in grading it against a standardized ruler such a performance rubric, there is immense value as well.  This gives us a tool for comparison and a vehicle for excellence.  While music is an art, there are certain facets of precision and accuracy that are necessary for an informed performance.  As singers, we are the vessels for the music, and we have a responsibility and a duty to perform it with integrity to the best of our ability.  

Stimulates renewed student focus and determination.

In my opinion, February and March are some of the hardest months of the school year.  In Michigan it’s dark and dreary, and school continuity is sometimes disrupted by snow and ice days (why do they always happen the day of or the day before an event?!?).  Adjudicated festivals certainly add to the stress of these months, but they also provide motivation and momentum throughout the winter months.  

Provides a different perspective.

Teacher’s are master “stealers”.  We steal teaching tips and tricks from each other and our past experiences.  As music teachers, we are the culmination of our own teachers and musical experiences.  Isn’t that cool?!?  It also means that more musical experiences we have with our students, the greater depth and breadth of our knowledge.  It’s important to not only provide this for our students, but for ourselves.  

Reinforces your teaching. 

On the flip side….. Isn’t it great when an adjudicator says the same things you do?!?!  This reinforces your teaching, set’s you up to be the “hero” with your students, and gosh darn it, it just feels good. 

Allows you to be more visible in the community.

Anytime we can be more visible in our community, it can be beneficial to our program.  Post/share about the bus trip to festival, share scores if you feel comfortable, send out smiling pictures if you’re allowed. 

Legitimizes our art.

Whether we like it or not, we need this.  Parents, other teachers, and administrators understand scores and percentages… they don’t always understand subjective art.  

Gives a reason to celebrate! 

Have you ever seen the choir cheering on the bus after they receive their scores?  What a great feeling!  Now sometimes we don’t get the scores we want… but there is always something to celebrate: we worked together as a team, we overcame obstacles, and we’ve made so many improvements.  Celebrate the journey, not just the successes.  

Now after all that, I do think it’s important to emphasize:  The rubric isn’t everything.  I’ll say it again for the kids in the back:  THE RUBRIC ISN’T EVERYTHING.  It is only a snapshot of what the choir sounds like at that given time. It’s kind of like a monthly financial statement…. It doesn’t show the journey to go there or what happens after.  It doesn’t show the inner and outer struggles to achieve that moment in time, and it quantifies a much bigger picture and story. 

What is your favorite reason to participate in adjudicated festivals?