Festival Code of Ethics

Each festival participant and director is expected to conform to rules of good conduct, i.e., observance of care of property, behavior patterns, and adherence to all rules. Directors will show courtesy to all festival workers and ensure that proper adult supervision is present for their students at all events. Appropriate audience behavior and exhibiting undivided attention are to expected in all auditoriums and performance rooms. Students should show respect for other performers and give them the attention they would want themselves as performers.

Communications regarding events are to be between MSVMA members and event supervisors only. Parents and students are not to contact event supervisors. Event applications and adjudication forms are to be completed only by directors.

Directors will adhere to the schedule and leave the warm-up area when asked. Directors should use their ratings in an educational manner and not misrepresent them to the students or the public. Directors or festival participants will not attempt to influence the judges. At no time will anyone other than the event supervisor approach or contact an adjudicator regarding a rating or student‘s performance. Concerns are to be addressed to the supervisor or written on the adjudicator evaluation form. If, in the opinion of the event supervisor, a serious infraction has occurred, the MSVMA Board of Directors is to be informed by letter. The Board of Directors will take appropriate action which may result in the disqualification from participation in future festivals for a period of time not to exceed two years.

Eligibility

Participation in all festivals is open to all schools holding a current membership. All student participants must be members in good standing in their school‘s vocal music program and their directors must be current MSVMA members. It is necessary to assess schools an additional fee for these events. These fees must be paid prior to or upon application for participation in any event.

Each year the MSVMA sponsors festival events for choirs, large and small ensembles, and soloists. Students have an opportunity to sing for adjudicators and to hear other groups perform. The festivals are designed to be non-competitive. Directors have the option of having their students sing for a rating or for written comments only. The "comments only" option provides students and directors with an opportunity to participate in adjudicated events for no rating. Directors are encouraged to consider this format and should indicate "CO" in the rating box on the submitted adjudication forms.

Each of the events described in the following pages has been designed to support educationally sound objectives. These festivals have been very popular with students and directors. The wide range and variety of experiences should provide something for every taste and ability.

• Schools holding a current membership are eligible to participate in all district events. Applications must be made on the MSVMA website.
• For all MSVMA activities, Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 are designated as high school level. Grades 6, 7, and 8 are designated as junior high/middle school level.
• 9th Grade students may participate in solo/ensemble or choral festivals at the high school or junior high/middle school level, but not both. Once designated, the student must perform at this level through all district and state level festivals for that school year. All rules for participation, including repertoire and sight-reading requirements, would follow the designation of the festival.
• Ninth Grade students performing in the 7-8-9 SSA or 7-8-9 SATB Honors Choir would not be impacted by the solo/ensemble or choral festival designation. Requests for exemption to this policy must be made in writing to the Board of Directors.
• Fifth graders may not participate in any activities.