Purpose: The TMEA State Concert Festival was created to provide a performance venue for those wind instrumental programs that have been recognized by their regional associations as having attained the highest level of excellence in stage performance and sight reading.
Section I: Eligibility
- Bands will participate in the State Concert Festival through invitation only.
- Invitations will be issued by the TMEA State Band Chair to any band that participates in their regional concert festival and receives an overall stage evaluation of "Superior" (I), AND a sight reading rating of "Superior" (I).
- In the event that a band cannot perform at their regional concert festival, they may participate in another regional association's concert festival, and will be considered to be eligible so long is they fulfill the criteria of the host region.
- "Regional Association's Event" is understood to mean an event that is sponsored by one of the three band and orchestra associations. (ETSBOA, MTSBOA, WTSBOA)
- Bands will also be considered eligible if they are invited to perform at a music convention of state, regional or national importance. Examples would include: The Midwest Clinic, TMEA, NBA (regional or national), MENC (regional or national).
- It shall be the responsibility of the TMEA State Band Chair to obtain the ratings from the regional associations.
- The State Band Chair shall issue invitations to all qualifying ensembles no later than the first week of September.
- Invitations must be accepted ands returned with the registration fee to the State Band Chair by October 1st.
- Invitations are for the following year's event. Therefore, the ratings for the various 2004 concert festivals will determine eligibility for the first State Festival, scheduled for 2005.
- There will be a $300 entrance fee from each participating band. This fee should be remitted along with the acceptance of the invitation.
Section II Organization of the Festival
- All participating ensembles will perform a program of suitable and appropriate literature, no less than 15 minutes and no more than 25 minutes in length.
- Each ensemble will be given a a warm up time that will begin 30 minutes before the performance. The warm up time will be 20 minutes in length with 10 minutes allotted for travel and set up.
- There will not be a music list from which literature shall be selected. It is assumed that all selections will be "appropriate."
- 3 original scores of every selection will be provided by each participating band. Measures will be numbered. Exceptions for selections which are out of print will be allowed, provided appropriate documentation is submitted.
- Ratings and/or awards will not be presented at the State Concert Festival.
- Sight reading will not be a requirement of the State concert Festival.
- Each band will perform for a panel of nationally and internationally recognized experts. Each member of the panel will provide the participating groups with written and taped comments.
- H. Upon completing the 15-25 minute performance, each group will be given 10 minutes to travel and set up for a clinic session. One member of the evaluating panel will accompany the band where they will provide a clinic session of up to 20 minutes.
- The clinic will be primarily on the music from the stage performance. A participating director may opt to include 1 additional composition in the folder for the clinician to work with the band. The score to this selection will be submitted along with the scores from the stage performance so that the clinician may have a chance to prepare accordingly.
- Each participating band will be required to attend the performances of at least 2 other performing groups. Any band that does not fulfill this "listening" requirement will be ineligible to participate in the following year's state festival.
Section III Festival Miscellany
- Set up crews will be provided by the festival host. Each performing group should be prepared to assist the festival set-up crew with particulars.
- Major percussion instruments will be provided by the host.
- C. Programs and an announcer will be provided by the TMEA.
- A complimentary recording will be provided by the TMEA. Additional recordings will be available for purchase.
- A participation plaque will be presented to each participating group by the TMEA.
- The evaluating panel will be obtained, in conjunction with the TMEA State band Chair, by the Tennessee Bandmaster's Association (TBA), and will be contracted for services by the TMEA.
- The TMEA State Band Chair will be the administrator of the festival, handling all of the paperwork and administrative details. This will include locating and retaining a host site and host for the festival. All fees, contracts, and funding issues will be handled by the State Band Chair in conjunction with the TMEA Executive Board and Board of Directors.
- TMEA will be responsible for the clinician's fee of $700/day, plus lodging, meals (up to $30 per day) and travel expenses (up to $400).