Festival of Music - Worlds of Fun

Choir Information

Festival of Music is designed to be an educational learning experience, in which participants learn methods that improve their musical ability, while enjoying the Midwest’s premier entertainment destination with fellow ensemble members. It is the responsibility of each adjudicator to not only evaluate performances, but to make positive suggestions that directors and ensemble members may use to improve their musicianship.

Choirmaster

Dr. Robert Lawrence, currently serves as an Associate Professor of Music where he teaches voice and music education courses at the University of Central Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Miami University and Master of Music degree in conducting at Ball State University. Dr. Lawrence received his Doctorate in Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Kentucky. He is very active as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. Dr. Lawrence’s professional affiliations include American Choral Directors Association, Missouri Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Music Educators Association, Chorus America, International Federation for Choral Music, and two professional honorary music fraternities, Phi Mu Alpha and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Adjudicators

Worlds of Fun's nationally known adjudicators are exceptionally qualified and recognized as among the best in their fields. A qualified relief judge will be utilized on Saturday to provide assistance to the listed adjudicators. Below are the prestigious adjudicators attending this year's festival.

April 13 - 15, 2012

Patrick M. Liebergen, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin

Alan McClung, Director of Choirs at the University of North Texas

Tom Wine, Professor of Music Education and Director of Choral Activities at Wichita State University

April 20 - 22, 2012

Stan McGill, taught 33 years in secondary choral music education in Texas and Missouri

Jamila McWhirter, Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Coordinator of Undergraduate and Graduate Music Education Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

Karen Fulmer, President-Elect Designate for the American Choral Directors Association

Entry Fee Information

A $25 registration fee is due for each performing group. The registration fee is non-refundable/non-transferable and must be received prior to receiving a scheduled performance time.
The $25 fee is for registration purposes only and does NOT apply to your ticket purchase.
All members of your group, including students, directors, and accompanists are required to prepurchase a Festival of Music Entry a minimum of 10 days in advance. Chaperones, parents and families may also purchase the FOM ticket.
- One-Day Entry $29
- Two-Day Entry $
- BUY EVENT TICKETS ONLINE - Available March 2012
The Festival of Music Entry fee includes participation in the Festival of Music and one specific day admission to Worlds of Fun.
One (1) complimentary admission ticket is issued with every 15 Festival of Music Entries purchased when full payment is received a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to performance date.
Complimentary tickets are not issued for orders received less than two (2) weeks prior to performance date. Complimentary tickets will be issued on individual orders, not on a cumulative basis.
Worlds of Fun is closed to the general public on Friday, April 13, April 20, April 27, and May 4, 2012.
Season Passports are honored for members of your group, but do not count toward your group size when purchasing tickets.
No refunds or rain checks will be issued on pre-purchased admission tickets.
Separate charge for RipCord, The Rock, and Grand Prix Raceway.

Music Requirements

While the music selection is at the discretion of the director, Worlds of Fun encourages directors to select music of high artistic merit.
Performance of musical selections with scores is allowed. Musical selections which have been memorized for performance are encouraged.
At the time of check-in, the director provides three sets of original scores, measures numbered consecutively.
Photocopies are not permitted unless accompanied by written approval from the publisher. For additional information, please contact the Music Publishers Association - www.mpa.org.
The original scores, as well as the adjudicators written and recorded comments and a CD of the live performance, are picked up following the performance at the Festival of Music booth, located at the main entrance of the park. Please allow a minimum of 30 minutes for packets to be available for pick-up.

Choral Guidelines

Total performance time is 10-minutes in length. Time permitting, a 5-minute clinic, with a nationally renowned adjudicator, follows each performance.
Festival of Music does not include grades 6th and under, swing, show, or jazz choirs.
Ensembles perform a maximum of two (2) music selections for adjudication.
Please plan to adhere to these guidelines. The Choirmaster reserves the right to lower your overall rating if you exceed time.

Performance Classification

Groups are classified by school enrollment (official state count for enrollment on or after October 1, 2011).
Performance Divisions:
- Middle School/Junior High School
  - At or Below 245 Students
  - 246 - 750 Students
  - 751 - 1000 Students
  - 1001 & More Students
- Senior High School
  - At or Below 245 Students
  - 246 - 750 Students
  - 751 - 1,000 Students
  - 1001 & More Students
- Non-Association* (see below)
*Non-Association Division participants are schools that are not a member of their State Activities Association. This Division is eligible for Honor Awards within its own class, but not for Sweepstakes.
Grades 6th & under may perform a non-adjudicated Open Air performance on Saturday, April 14 or April 21, 2012 only, at a separate venue within Worlds of Fun between the hours of 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. Please contact Group Sales at 816-303-5133 for performance times and arrangements.

Performance Categories

Full Competition – division rating, comments and eligibility for trophy awards
Comments Only – performance for adjudicators’ comments only

Performance Arrangements

All performing members, directors, and accompanists must wear appropriate performance attire. Acceptable dress includes formal uniforms, costumes, and concert attire.
Worlds of Fun provides 2 10'x10' changing tents conveniently located in H parking lot. H lot is adjacent to the bus parking lot (G) .
Worlds of Fun provides the following equipment in the Performance Hall: grand piano, six sections of full-sized, three-step choral risers, choir shells, and director’s podium.

Warm-Up Area

Worlds of Fun provides a permanent outdoor picnic shelter as the warm-up facility. Included is a digital piano, electricity, and privacy during performance preparations.
Choir shells and risers are not provided in the warm-up facility.
No less than 30-minutes prior to your scheduled performance each group should report to the Festival of Music Check-In Booth (located outside and to the east of the main entrance) with all tickets distributed, group dressed and ready to warm-up.
Each group is assigned a personal park escort to assist them throughout their festival experience.
All groups are allotted 15-minutes in the warm-up facility. The policy is strictly enforced.

Standards for Ratings

The Festival of Music Adjudicators use the following standards for performance ratings. The division ratings are based on industry standards among like festivals.
- Rating I - Superior - This rating reflects the finest conceivable performance for the event and class of participants being evaluated. Performance is worthy of the distinction of being recognized as among the very best.
- Rating II - Excellent - This rating reflects an unusually high level of performance in many respects, but not worthy of the highest rating due to minor defects. Yet it is a performance of distinctive quality. The ensemble receiving this rating usually shows the result of sound, fundamental training, but the performance lacks the polish and finesse necessary to qualify for a division I rating.
- Rating III - Good - This rating is awarded for good performance, but one that is not outstanding. It shows accomplishment with marked promise and potential, but is lacking in one or more essential qualities. This rating indicates much room for improvement in many of the fundamental areas listed on the adjudicators' comment sheet.
- Rating IV - Fair - This rating describes a performance that shows obvious weaknesses. These may reflect handicaps in the way of instrumentation or lack of rehearsal time, but generally represents a performance that is weak or uncertain. There are numerous errors and the performance reveals basic weaknesses in most of the fundamental factors listed on the comment sheet.
- Rating V - Poor - This rating indicates a performance that reveals much room for improvement. The director should re-evaluate his/her methods, instrumentation, etc., with those of more mature individuals and organizations. Even the most critical judges rarely use this division. It indicates a performance in which the performers reveal almost a complete lack of preparedness and understanding. In some cases, this may be due to immature students attempting music which is far too advanced for them. In other words, it may be due to an accumulation of careless and poor playing habits which only tend to become accentuated and more noticeable as the player becomes older.

Determining Final Rating

The evaluation of each of the three adjudicators will count one third in determining the final rating.
Each adjudicator will give ratings as follows: Rating I, Rating II, Rating III, Rating IV, and Rating V.
The following points will be assigned to each adjudicator's rating to determine the final rating for each ensemble: Rating I - 1 point, Rating II - 2 points, Rating III - 3 points, Rating IV - 4 points, and Rating V - 5 points.
The following scale will determine the final rating for each ensemble from the ratings given by the individual adjudicators:
- Rating I - 3 through 4 points
- Rating II - 5 through 7 points
- Rating III - 8 through 10 points
- Rating IV - 11 through 13 points
- Rating V - 14 through 15 points

Honor Awards

An Awards Ceremony is held each Saturday and Sunday following the final performance for that day. Ensembles participating on Friday afternoon will be included in the Saturday Awards Ceremony.
Awards must be picked up each day. A packaging and shipping fee will be required for any awards that require shipment.
Please plan to have a minimum of one representative from your school attend the Awards Ceremony.
Each school that receives an Honor Award, that is not picked up during the Awards Ceremony, must make arrangements for pick-up with the Festival Manager.
Each participating group receives a Certificate of Performance personally signed by each adjudicator and the Choirmaster, recorded and written comments by each adjudicator, and a recorded copy of the performance.
"I" rating plaques are awarded to each performing ensemble that achieves a “I” rating.
A First and Second Place Honor Trophy is presented in each rated division. Each day performing ensembles compete with other ensembles within their division for the Honor Awards.
If, in the opinion of the judges, performances within a division do not achieve a sufficient level of excellence, the Honor Awards may not be awarded.
A Sweepstakes Trophy is awarded each Sunday to the best overall performance for that weekend.

Photographs

2 group photographs will be taken on-stage prior to your performance.
Photographs may be viewed and purchased, in the Tivoli Music Hall Lobby, within 30 minutes of your performance.
5 x 7 photos are available at a discounted rate.
Questions, please contact 816-303-5036.