Thousands of dedicated middle and high school student musicians from across the state are preparing for the Wisconsin School Music Association State Solo & Ensemble Festival.
Ten university campuses will host performances by more than 32,000 students, making this event one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
UW–Platteville, UW–Milwaukee, UW–Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater will hold festivals on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cardinal Stritch University in Mequon, UW–Eau Claire, UW–Green Bay, UW–La Crosse, UW–Parkside and UW–Stevens Point festivals will be held on Saturday, May 3.
An evening Jazz Festival will take place at St. Norbert College in De Pere Saturday, May 3.
All events are open to the public and free of charge.
“Wisconsin music students continue to excel in their level of achievement and dedication to excellence,” said WSMA Executive Director Tim Schaid. “The WSMA State Music Festival provides a quality opportunity for them to share the talents and skills developed in the classroom while creating a lifelong memory through their state festival performance.”
Students must earn a “starred first” rating in Class A (which consists of the most difficult music) at a WSMA District Music Festival to qualify for WSMA State Music Festivals. The participants, in sixth through 12th grades, can choose from a variety of instrumental and vocal solo and ensemble categories for their performances in district festivals throughout the state. Over the past six months, WSMA has held more than 225 such events, involving more participants than any other student activity.
Participants in the UW–Platteville Solo & Ensemble Festival will be from Argyle, Belmont, Black Hawk, Boscobel, Cassville, Darlington, Fennimore, Iowa–Grant, Ithaca, Lancaster, Pecatonica, Platteville, Potosi, Richland Center, River Ridge, Riverdale, Shullsburg, Southwestern and Weston high schools, along with some middle school performers.
Learn more about WSMA State Music Festivals and other programs by visiting www.wsmamusic.org. Festival information, including schedules and results, will be posted as available.