Solo+&+Ensemble+Festival

The Solo & Ensemble festival is the only musical event we participate in this year where the student performs as an individual soloist without the rest of the band. As a soloist they do however have a piano accompanist during their performance. While many school districts have a Solo & Ensemble Festival we do not, we host the state festival. Schools from all over the state attend and participate in this once-a-year, annual festival. We are fortunate that the festival this year is held in North Phoenix at Desert Sky Middle School: 51st Avenue & Grovers (Grovers is one intersection south of Union Hills).
 * State Level Festival and Directions**

The cost of for each solo or ensemble is $15. Please pay the week before your event. (Checks payable to Gavilan Peak.) Each student has a specific individual performance time that lasts only 7 minutes (or less). Once a performer is done they can leave. Attire is any formal attire. The festival begins at 8:00am and lasts until all performances have been completed (usually about 3:30pm or 4:00pm). Each student needs to arrive in time to warm-up, locate their performance room, and be ready to perform. For most students this means arriving about 20 minutes before their scheduled performance time. Once a student has completed their performance they are free to leave. Parents that would like to request a specific time for their child to perform need to send me their request by Jan. 9th.
 * Cost, Time, and Attire**

First year students will perform a solo with piano accompaniment for a musical judge called an adjudicator. The recommended solo is "Sawmill Creek" on page 20 of their Standard of Excellence band book. Alternatively, with Mr. Lyons' approval, a student may play the solo on page 36 of their band book.
 * Solo Music to Perform**

Each second year student may choose between performing a solo or performing in a small ensemble.

Second year students may perform the solo found on page 36 of their Standard of Excellence vol. 1 (red) band book. Or, they may perform the solo found on p. 22 of the Standard of Excellence vol.2 (blue) band book. With Mr. Lyons' approval they may choose to perform the solo on page 38 of their vol. 2 (blue) band book. This is the form judges use to adjudicate solos. This is the form judges use to adjudicate percussion performances.

Second year students, with Mr. Lyons approval, may perform in a small ensemble of their choice and design (duet, trio, quartet, quintet, etc). Music to perform is found in the Standard of Excellence "Festival Ensembles" book. Or, with Mr. Lyons approval, they may perform one of the ensembles found on page 36 or 37 of their Standard of Excellence vol. 2 (blue) book. This is the form judges use to adjudicate ensembles.
 * Ensemble Music to Perform**

Each student soloist is required to perform with a piano accompanist. Accompanists can perform in as many as 10 different individual student solo performances. Class time will be given to work with an accompanist. Please also work with your accompanist during your after school, home practice time. Since the accompanist is dedicated to and working for the student's success, a gift of thanks would be appropriate after the performance.
 * Accompanists**


 * 2012 Solo & Ensemble Schedule**