District IV ​BAND Large Ensemble Assessment
HIGH SCHOOL
March 18-19, 2025

MIDDLE SCHOOL
March 20-21, 2025
Zachary High School
FORMS & FEES DUE BY
​Thursday, February 13th

DISTRICT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

The COVID modifications expired in 2023. 
Committees from the Vocal and Instrumental Divisions have completed a “redesign” of the large ensemble assessment information and procedures to address members’ concerns in both stage performance and sight-reading. The following changes have been approved and will go into effect this year. 

Music Requirements

The updated information can be found on the LMEA website.  

Sight reading

The updated information for sight reading can be found on the LMEA website. ​

Adjudicators & Ratings

  • 3 stage adjudicators and 1 sight-reading adjudicator (2 adjudicators will be LMAA certified judges)​
  • ​Ensembles may still choose to perform for Comments Only or Ratings

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE CLASS

Extenuating or unusual circumstances many times prevent groups from participating in the normal District Assessment Classification.  A director who feels that extenuating circumstances warrant an opportunity to participate in the assessment with lessened performance and sight reading requirements may apply for this classification. Ensembles placed in this class are allowed to perform and/or sight read one level lower than their originally required minimum. 
Reasons for Extenuating Circumstance consideration are, but are not limited to:
  • New, reestablished, and/or developing programs (Old Class D)
  • Majority High School Beginners
  • Disaster/Emergency situations (Old Class E)
  • Limited or unusual class time restrictions
  • Combines school with multiple directors
  • Youth, All-City, All-Parish Groups (Old Class H and I)
The process to apply and be accepted into the Extenuating Circumstance Class will be as follows:
  1. The Ensemble Director must complete the Extenuating Circumstance Application. (Google form; for deadline, contact your District Director)
  2. The application includes all of the information and explanations needed for the selected panel to consider.
  3. A panel consisting of the District Director, Division Chair, and 1 other District Director in that specific division will review the applications and determine if the situation warrants granting the classification.
Once an ensemble is approved for the extenuating circumstance class, the director will choose to have published ratings or comments only.  Awards are given with published ratings only.

REgistration

Entry Forms
  • A paper entry form is still available here for bookkeeping purposes (if necessary) 
  • Please fill out the Google Form in addition to the paper form that will accompany your check.  You will need to fill out 1 form per ensemble. You may return to the form to make edits
  • Mail payment to:
    • 401 Hatchell Ln. Denham Springs, LA 70726 Attn. LMEA District 4 - Ryan Benoit. It must be made payable to LMEA District IV
  • Performance Time Requests will be considered in the order of payment received. Please request performance times if absolutely necessary. 
Fees
  • $200 per performing group plus a $25 recording fee for a total of $225 (payable to LMEA District IV).  

Deadline
Thursday, February 13, 2025
  • If I receive it after the date listed above, your group will receive the performance time that is available after I have scheduled the other groups.  As a reminder, I am numbering the forms as I receive them in order to schedule you based on your preference.

Send Fees To:
Denham Springs Junior High School  c/o Ryan Benoit, 401 Hatchell Ln., Denham Springs, LA 70726
Checks made payable to ​LMEA District IV

Questions?
Band Directors, if you have any questions, please contact Ryan Benoit at d[email protected].  If this is your first time preparing for assessment, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask questions to a seasoned teacher.  We are all here to help and want to see you and your program succeed.  I encourage all of you to take a look at the adjudication forms & rubrics​ prior to attending assessment. I have attached them to this email as well. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Rules & Regulations

Directors are responsible for knowing what is required under the rules, so please read carefully through the information on the LMEA website regarding your size classification and required music selections.  One selection must come off of any state's music list and no selections can be by the same composers.

Reminder:  A band or orchestra member of the first concert ensemble may participate in the second ensemble or training group of the same type provided he/she plays a different instrument. 
​
Remember that you will need 3 original scores for the judges of your selected performance pieces.  You may want to order these now if you haven’t already.
  • ​Duplicated scores will be accepted only if accompanied by written permission from the copyright owner or if you have purchased it as an ePrint which will be indicated on the score itself.  Directors with illegal material will not be allowed to participate.
  • ​Directors with no scores will not be allowed to perform for a rating.

Day of Festival

What to Bring

  • 3 original copies of scores, measures numbered​
  • 3 copies of seating chart​
  • Percussion Equipment - You will need to provide all mallets, Snare Drum, Bells, and other hardware you need on stage as well as sight-reading. 
  • Percussion provided on stage:  Chimes, Marimba, Xylophone, Vibes, Bass Drum, Gong, 4 Timpani and Piano. 
  • Percussion provided in the sight-reading room:  Bass Drum and 4 Timpani (bring mallets)
  • You will need to provide in the sight-reading room:​​  TBA

Parking

  • If you have parents coming to watch during the morning hours, they will need to park in the gravel lot where the band trailer is parked.  When parking in that lot, they will need to make sure they are not blocking in the buses that are parked on the back side of the lot so that those buses can run their afternoon routes.  If your parents arrive noon or later, they can look for parking spots as the seniors will be finishing up their school day and leaving.
  • Reserve the bus lane in front of the theater for buses and equipment trucks at all times.​​
  • ​As in past years, if you are on campus between the times of 1:30 and 2:30, your buses will need to move out of the bus lane temporarily so that we can dismiss our Zachary High students.

Procedure

​Arrival
  • Arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before your scheduled warm-up time. 
  • Director check-in.
  • Turn in your three copies of judges scores (make sure the measures are numbered).
  • Leave cases on buses/trailers.
  • Approximately 15 minutes before warm-up, line students up outside of warm-up room. 
  • STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE SOUNDS ON THEIR INSTRUMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE WARM-UP ROOM.  REFRAIN FROM TALKING IN THE HALLWAY.   
  • Any parents you have with you can go into the theatre at this time.
​Warm-up Room
  • We will not have many stands in the warm-up room so be prepared for this.  
  • You will be asked to move from the warm-up room 5 minutes before your performance time.
Stage Performance
  • Once on stage, it is okay to do a short scale/chorale/sound check before your group is announced.
  • Between selections, it is not necessary to wait on the judge’s signal to continue on.
  • Immediately after performing, each group is to remain seated for a group picture.  *Please share the picture order information with your students.
​Sight-Reading Room
  • Groups will be led from the stage to the Sight-Reading Room.  This is officially a closed room, spectators not directly connected with the performing group are not permitted in, unless requested by the director.
  • Only one director may instruct and direct the ensemble. 
  • ​There shall be one instruction period as follows for all organizations:
    • Level 4 and 5: 10 minutes
    • All other levels: 8 minutes
  • The director may not play an instrument – string, wind, keyboard or otherwise.
  • The director may not utilize technology devices.
  • The students may play the sight-reading evaluation music individually, in small groups, or with the full ensemble, at the discretion of the director.
  • The students and/or the director may sing the music and/or count, clap, and tap rhythms during the instruction period.​
​Dismissal
  • After Sight-Reading, bands are dismissed.  They may either enter the Theatre to watch other groups perform, or depart.
  • Food, drink, candy, and gum are not allowed inside the theater.
  • Directors can receive their scores and comments at the check-in table.  Results are not officially posted until the director receives the ratings first.

Judges Comments

You will get your judges comments via google drive.  The clean recording of your group will also be uploaded to your google folder as well. ​