Updated 12/10/2008

ARTICLE 5 - RULES GOVERNING THE STATE - SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST

A. SOLOS
1. Events

a. Solo instruments acceptable shall include all instruments used in bands and orchestras.
b. Piano
c. Vocal

2. Classification

a. Solos are to be classified solely according to the difficulty of the selections as given on the suggested lists published by this Association. (School enrollment classifications are in no way correlated to the classifications given to these events.)

Class A Difficult
Class B Medium Difficult
Class C Medium
Class D Easy
Class E Beginner

Class D and E are restricted to District participation.

b. The soloist may be entered in any classification desired during his first year of participation in the contests. Thereafter he is REQUIRED to advance at least one classification higher, having received a Division I rating the previous year at District Contest. The soloist may advance as many classifications as desired regardless of previous ratings earned, but is NOT permitted to enter a lower classification.

3. Participating schools will be permitted an unlimited number of solo entries.
4. If a student chooses to participate in more than one solo event, he must perform a different selection each on different instruments i.e. piccolo and flute, baritone and trombone, etc.
5. A soloist shall not perform a composition performed by him in former District or State Contest.
6. All soloists will be required to perform the same selection at the State Contest that was performed at the District Contest.
7. All vocal solos must be memorized. Vocal solos shall not read from a score upon penalty of being placed one Division lower in the final rating.
8. All piano solos must be memorized. Piano soloists shall not read from a score upon penalty of being placed one Division lower in the final rating.
9. Wind, string and percussion solos may use music.
10. The performance time of a composition shall not exceed six minutes.
11. All solos shall be accompanied by piano unless the score indicates the composition is unaccompanied.
12. Students appearing without an accompaniment or without an adjudicators score shall be referred to the contest chairperson. They shall make the decision whether or not the student shall perform.
13. A soloist will not be permitted to wear uniform, medals or in any other way reveal his or his schools identity to the adjudicator. A director will not identify a soloist to the adjudicator by any action or deed.
14. To be eligible to perform, soloists shall provide for the adjudicator one original score of their performance selection. All measures must be numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end of the selection. Failure to have the measures numbered will result in a penalty of being placed one Division lower in the final rating.
15. Drum soloists will NOT be required to play rudiments.
16. Piano solo participants must be performing members of the band, orchestra, chorus or accompany events in the solo and ensemble contest.

B. ENSEMBLES
1. INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE EVENTS. Designations as to type of ensemble shall be determined by the number of ensemble members and instrumentation.

a. Ensembles consist of any instrument combination and standardized instrumentation as follows: duets, trios, quartets, quintets, sextets and choirs.
b. Choirs may not exceed fifteen members.
c. Stage (Jazz) Band is considered to be an ensemble and must participate in the Solo and Ensemble Contest. SEE ADDITIONAL RULES TO FOLLOW.
d. No student may play the same titled selection as an ensemble member as he did as a soloist in the same year.
e. Directors may conduct large ensembles with more than six members.
f. Lab Band is considered to be an ensemble and must participate in the Solo and Ensemble Contest. SEE ADDITIONAL RULES TO FOLLOW.

2. VOCAL ENSEMBLE EVENTS. Designations as to the type of ensemble shall be determined by the number of ensemble members and the voicing of the music. Must be performed as follows:

a. Duets duets shall perform two-part music.
b. Double Duets double duets shall perform two-part music, two voices to a part.
c. Trios trios shall perform three-part music.
d. Triple Trios - triple trios shall perform three-part music, three voices to a part.
e. Quartets quartets shall perform four-part music.
f. Sextets sextets shall perform three-part music, two voices to a part.
g. Double Sextets double sextets shall perform three-part music, four voices to a part or a maximum of twelve members.
h. Octets octets shall perform four-part music, two voices to a part or a maximum of eight members.
i. Double Octets double octets shall perform four-part music, four voices to a part or a maximum of sixteen members.
j. Madrigals madrigal ensembles shall perform madrigal style music as scored.
k. LAB CHOIR is considered to be an ensemble and must participate in the solo and ensemble contest. SEE ADDITIONAL RULES TO FOLLOW.

3. ENSEMBLES are classified according to the difficulty of the selection regardless of the size of the school EXCEPT STAGE (JAZZ) BAND, LAB BAND AND LAB CHOIR. SEE ADDITIONAL RULES TO FOLLOW. Ensembles are NOT required to advance in classification the year after receiving a Division I rating.

Class A Difficult
Class B Medium Difficult
Class C Medium
Class D Easy
Class E Beginner
Class D and E are restricted to District participation.

4. Participating schools will be permitted an unlimited number of ensemble entries.
5. An ensemble shall not repeat a composition previously performed in the contest by that school until all members of that ensemble have changed.
6. All ensembles shall be required to perform for adjudication the same selection at the State Contest that was performed at the District Contest.
7. Vocal ensembles shall not read from a score upon penalty of being placed one Division lower in the final rating.
8. The performing time of a composition must not exceed six minutes.
9. All ensembles shall be accompanied as scored.
10. A director shall be permitted to accompany his own ensembles.
11. Directors are not permitted to enter or be present in an ensemble contest room prior to, during or immediately following the performance of a contestant from his school upon penalty of disqualifying the contestants in said event. EXCEPTIONS When he is accompanying the event, when he is conducting a large ensemble, Lab Choir, Lab Band or Stage (Jazz) Band.
12. Members of an ensemble shall not be permitted to wear uniform, medals or in any other way reveal their identity or that of their school to the adjudicator. A director shall not identify an ensemble to the adjudicator by any action or deed.
13. To be eligible to perform, ensembles shall provide one original score for the selection to be performed. All measures must be numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end of the selection. Failure to have the measures numbered will result in a penalty of being placed one Division lower in the final rating.

C. STAGE (JAZZ) BANDS ADDITIONAL RULES
1. Stage (jazz) bands must participate in the District Solo and Ensemble Contest to be eligible for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest and shall be listed as a choir event.
2. Classification of stage (jazz) bands is determined by the size of the school, as for all other organizations.
3. Fees are the same as for all other ensembles.
4. Ratings and awards are the same as for bands, orchestras and choruses except there is only one adjudicator and no plaque is to be awarded.
5. Stage (jazz) bands must perform two contrasting selections.
6. Music should be performed as scored for a stage (jazz) band.
7. There shall be NO doubling of like instruments with the exception of bass below.
8. Bass guitar may be used in place of string bass or both string bass and bass guitar may be used.
9. Rhythm guitar may be excluded.
10. The director may conduct the ensemble, but may NOT play with the group.
11. On stage tuning by the director is allowed.
12. Twenty minutes shall be allowed for performance, including set-up and tear-down.

D. LAB CHOIR ADDITIONAL RULES
Lab choir a new form for choral expression to promote experimentation in music other than that considered traditional.
1. A Lab Choir (short for laboratory) should be an experimental group, utilizing the following suggestions: (a) speech choir, (b) rock group, (c) swing choir, (d) experimental sounds, (e) your choice.
2. Lab choirs must participate in the District Solo and Ensemble Contest to be eligible for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest.
3. Classification for Lab Choirs is determined by the size of the school, as for all other organizations.
4. Fees are the same for all other ensembles.
5. Ratings and awards are the same as for bands, orchestras and choruses except there is only one adjudicator and no plaque is to be awarded.
6. Lab choirs shall perform two selections, which should be at least two-part music. Original compositions and arrangements are encouraged but not required.
7. Complete numbered scores for the adjudicator must be submitted. These may be either published or in clear, neat, manuscript form.
8. Twenty minutes shall be allowed for performance including set-up and tear-down.
9. Accompaniment should be limited to six live performers or tape. Any instrumentation is allowed. Pre-recorded tapes will be allowed only when the composition is published expressly for voices and tape.
10. Vocalists shall be limited to a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty-five (25).
11. The director may accompany, conduct or both, but may not sing. No accompanist may sing with the group.
12. The group shall be judged on the same basis as any other choral group. Instrumental accompanists will not be judged. Only vocalists will receive medals.

E. LAB BANDS ADDITIONAL RULES
1. Lab bands must participate in the District Solo and Ensemble Contest to be eligible for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest and shall be listed as a choir event.
2. Classification of lab bands is determined by the size of the school, as for all other organizations.
3. Fees are the same as for all other ensembles.
4. Ratings and awards are the same as for bands, orchestras and choruses except there is only one adjudicator and no plaque is to be awarded.
5. Lab bands must perform two contrasting selections.
6. Rhythm guitar may be excluded.
7. The director may conduct the ensemble, but may NOT play with the group.
8. On stage tuning by the director is allowed.
9. Twenty minutes shall be allowed for performance, including set-up and teardown.
10. There will be no maximum or minimum number of students in Lab Bands.