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Principles Governing Participation in PMEA Festivals

The system of band, chorus and orchestra festivals (district, regional, and all-state) is organized and maintained by PMEA as one of its principal vehicles for implementation of its goals to further music education and encourage the development of music programs in the schools.� PMEA members who are directors of bands, choruses and orchestras in their schools have the privilege of sponsoring students from their� organization for participation in various festivals.

PMEA holds that participation by a student in a PMEA festival is a privilege granted by, and authorized through, the membership and active participation of the individual teacher/member who is the director of the given organization in the student?s school.�

PMEA rejects� sponsorship of a student for a festival by another PMEA member who is not the director of the performing group in that student?s school.�

A student must participate in his own school music program (band for band, chorus for chorus, orchestra for orchestra) in order to be eligible for sponsorship for a PMEA festival by the school?s music director.� Only 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who are�� members of their school band and/or chorus may audition for a district band and/or chorus festival.� 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade string students who are members of their school orchestra may audition for a district orchestra festival.� (9th grade students may not advance to the regional level).� In schools which do not have a string orchestra program, the school?s band director may sponsor string students from his/her school for an orchestra festival.

If a school offers band, chorus and/or orchestra as a class, then it is expected that the student be a member of that class in order to participate in PMEA festivals.� If a school does not offer music as a class, but instead offers extracurricular music ensembles (band,
chorus and/or orchestra) which rehearse on a regular basis and perform publicly, then it is expected that the student be a member of said ensemble in order to participate in PMEA festivals.� Rehearsal schedules and printed programs may be required to verify extracurricular programs.