WSMA is now collecting information for 2025-2026 Solo & Ensemble and Concert Festivals. One representative for each festival should submit scheduling information using the link below.
Not sure if someone else submitted this form? View submitted 2025-2026 Festival Information.
Scheduling FAQs and Resources
Can't remember the Festival Number?
Are there ‘black out dates’ not available to schedule a Festival?
WSMA does not allow festivals to be scheduled on the following dates:
- State Marching Band Championships (Saturday, October 18, 2025)
- Wisconsin State Music Conference (Wednesday, October 29 – Saturday, November 1, 2025)
- Friday or Saturday of WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival weekends
- Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Friday, May 1 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
Please note: There has been an increased request for Solo & Ensemble Festival dates on the last Saturday of February and the first two Saturdays of March. It is becoming increasingly difficult to assign qualified adjudicators to these festivals due to the large number of performance sites on these weekends.
WSMA understands that scheduling is complicated and is often contingent on facility availability and other extracurricular activities, but there are some options to consider that could alleviate judge assignment and scheduling concerns:
- Schedule large ensembles on the Friday night or other week night prior to the festival
- Split the festival into different event types on two different dates
- Example: Schedule one Solo & Ensemble Festival to accommodate all vocal events, schedule another to accommodate all instrumental events
Can I schedule a festival on Saturday, May 11?
WSMA realizes that festivals that normally occur on the first Saturday in April may need to find a different weekend due to Easter. Unfortunately, May 11, 2026 is not an option. All district festivals must be completed 3 weeks prior to the first weekend of State Solo & Ensemble festivals to allow enough time for scheduling and planning.
What do the letters in the festival numbers mean?
- C = Concert
- S = Solo & Ensemble
- J = Jazz
- M = Middle School
- LG = Large Groups/Ensembles
- VP = Vocal/Piano
- I = Instrumental
- CB = Concert Band
- CV = Concert Vocal
- CO = Concert Orchestra
Additional letters like N, S, E and W can mean that a large festival/conference split into North or South, etc… Contact WSMA if you have questions about the types of events that can be registered at a specific festival.
