DISTRICT IV ORCHESTRA LARGE ENSEMBLE ASSESSMENT


Thursday, ​March 20, 2025
Baton Rouge High
Chris Frazier, Chairperson
REGISTRATION INFO                                          DAY OF FESTIVAL

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

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 $30 recording & audio fee for a total of $230 (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!

Day of the Festival

Arrival, Drop-off and Parking
  • Please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your warm-up time.
  • ​Busses will drop students off in front of Baton Rouge High School, on Government Street.  There is an area where busses can pull over and unload. Busses may also remain parked there.
  • Parents and guests wanting to come and watch the performances may park at Boudreaux’s Catering, which is located next door to Baton Rouge High School, on the corner of Eugene and Government Street.
  • Participants and guests will only be able to enter or exit through the front doors, facing Government Street. Do not park in or use any other drop-off or parking area.

Other Check-In Procedures
  • Students will quietly wait outside while director checks in. Director’s should not be accompanied by students.
  • Students will be guided in by festival assistants. Students will be either guided to a holding area, the performance auditorium (for observation of other groups), or to the warm-up room.
  • Parents and guests may sit in the auditorium at this time.

Facilities
  • Front Foyer – Check-In
  • Side Foyer – Holding / Unpacking area
  • Black Box B – Warm-Up Room
  • Auditorium – Stage Performance
  • Orchestra Rehearsal Room 2215 – Sight-Reading

Procedure
  • Check In
  • Assistants will guide students to unpacking, warm-up area.  Every “on-time” group will receive 30 minutes in the warm-up room.  Warm-up attendant will notify director when there is 5 minutes left. At this time, groups should do their final tuning and prepare to enter the backstage area. 
  • ​Groups will be guided to warm-up room by assistant. STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE SOUNDS ON THEIR INSTRUMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE WARM-UP ROOM.  REFRAIN FROM TALKING IN THE HALLWAYS.  Every “on-time” group has 30 minutes to enter the stage, perform, and exit the stage. 
  • 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 print and distribute the picture purchase form to your students prior to Festival.  Groups will be led from stage by group attendant and brought to Sight-Reading Room.
  • Groups will enter sight-reading room orderly and quietly.  The Sight-Reading judge will introduce themselves, and recite the rules and regulations.  Groups will have 8 minutes to study the music, prior to performing.  Groups may clap, count, sing, and discuss the music, however, cannot make a musical sound with their instruments.  At the end of the 8 minutes, groups will have the opportunity to tune and play a scalar warm-up.  After the performance, groups will be led to holding area to pack up, and director will be led to check out table.  At this time, groups can either leave their belongings in the holding area and enter the Theatre to watch other groups, or may depart.
  • Judges comments will be returned to you on a flash drive or via Dropbox
  • Ratings and sheets will then be given to the director only. Director will then view results, then initial the verification.