Wisconsin School Music Association

Growing the future of music education

  • About Us
    • Our Purpose
    • WSMA Board of Directors
    • Contacts/Staff
    • Committees & Involvement
    • Field Representatives
    • Maps & Directions
  • Account Portal
  • Awards Store
  • Donate
  • Resources
    • Wisconsin School Musician
    • Adjudicator Center
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Board Access
    • Festival Manager Resources
    • Festival Music List
    • PBS Wisconsin Education
    • Permissions, Alternate Editions, Music Transfers
    • Professional Learning Opportunities
    • Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
  • Press Releases
  • Search
  • Membership
    • Become a Member School
    • Member Resources
      • WSMA Accreditation
      • WSMA Timeline
      • Festival Music List
      • Dues & Program Fees
    • Membership Benefits
    • Family Membership
    • Non-Member Festival Music List Subscription
  • Concert Festivals & Clinics
    • About
    • Festivals vs Clinic Experience
    • Calendar & Scheduling
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Festival Resources
      • Festival Rules
      • Festival Music List
      • Permissions, Alternate Editions, Music Transfers
      • Weather Emergency Procedures
      • Adjudicator Center
      • Dues & Program Fees
      • Festival Manager Resources
  • Solo & Ensemble Festivals
    • About
    • District Calendar & Scheduling
    • State Festivals
    • Festival Resources
      • Festival Rules
      • Festival Music List
      • Permissions, Alternate Editions, Music Transfers
      • Resources & FAQs
      • Dues & Program Fees
      • Festival Manager Resources
  • State Honors Project
    • About the Project
    • Middle Level State Honors
    • High School State Honors
  • Marching Band Activity
    • About
    • Resources
    • Independent Shows & Results
    • State Championships
    • Marching Band Hall of Fame
  • Composition Project
    • About
    • Guidelines & Entry Form
    • Composition Resources
    • Exemplary Composition Project
  • For Teachers
    • Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
    • Professional Learning Opportunities

Festival Manager Resources

2025 – 2026 Virtual Workshop Dates

Festival Manager Workshops are free and offered to all individuals hosting a WSMA music festival.  The workshops are intended to provide important information to festival managers, including festival manager responsibilities, overall festival organization ideas and an overview of the festival management software. The workshops are not required, but are highly recommended for all festival managers.
  • Friday, November 7:
    • 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Concert
  • Thursday, November 13:
    • 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Solo & Ensemble
  • Saturday, November 15:
    • 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Solo & Ensemble
    • 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Concert
  • Monday, November 17:
    • 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Solo & Ensemble
  • Thursday, November 20:
    • 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Concert
  • Saturday, January 17:
    • 8:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Solo & Ensemble
  • Tuesday, January 20:
    • 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Concert Festival


Festival Manager Handbook & Festival Rules

2025-2026 Festival Manager Handbook – Coming Soon!

2025-2026 Rules & Supporting Documents

  • Festival Rules (Apply to all events) – Will be updated in July 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Rule Changes (Consolidated list of changes for this school year) – Coming Soon!

Workshop Materials

2024-2025 WSMA Festival Slidedeck

WSMA Festival Manager Tips & Tricks – Slide Presentation by Ryan Petersen Email

    • Click here to view or download documents and templates from WSMA Festival Managers Tips and Tricks Presentation (provided by Ryan Petersen)

Watch the Solo & Ensemble Festival Manager Software Demo from the January 22, 2022 Virtual Workshop

  • Part 1: Importing Event Information, Calculating Judge Needs
  • Part 2: Assigning Sites
  • Part 3: Scheduling Basics and Block Scheduling by Accompanist
  • Part 4: Scheduling Cont. – Breaks, Lunches, Time Requests and Resolving Time Conflicts
  • Part 5: Advanced Scheduling – Editing Event Details, DNAs and Late Entries
  • Part 6: Room Set Up, Assign Judge Names, Scheduling 1 Room for 2 Judges
  • Part 7: Sharing Schedules, Printing Rubrics, Entering Ratings

Festival Manager Software

Will be available in fall 2025.


Sample Letters, Signs & Other Info

Rubrics can be found in the festival registration system on the “Festival Resources” tab or on the password-protected WSMA Festival Music List webpage.

Letters
  • Participating School Teacher Ex. 1
  • Participating School Teacher Ex. 2
  • Adjudicator Ex. 1
  • Adjudicators Ex. 2
  • Adjudicators Ex. 3
  • Host School Staff
  • Request for Volunteer Help
  • Request for Awards Support/Sponsor
Judge Meeting Agendas
  • Judge Meeting Agenda – Solo & Ensemble
  • Judge Meeting Agenda – Concert
Lists & Signs
  • Equipment Provided by Host School
  • Recording of Judge’s Comments Prohibited
  • WSMA Suggested Rubric Colors
Publicity and Media Resources
  • District Festivals Press Release Template
  • Press Release Format (Build your own)
  • Publicity Resources
  • Media Interview Tips
Example Festival Webpages
  • Example 1

Solo & Ensemble Festival

  • About
  • District Festival Calendar
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • State Festivals
    • Exemplary Performance Award
  • Festival Resources
    • Festival Rules
    • Festival Music List
    • Resources & FAQs
    • Festivals Committee
    • Weather Emergency Procedures
    • Adjudicator Center
    • Dues & Program Fees
    • WSMA Accreditation
  • Festival Manager Resources

Questions?

Festivals Support Team: Send a message
800-589-9762, 608-850-3566 (Madison area)

Suggestion Box

Have a song/event suggestion or enhancement for Festivals? Submit here

New Edition Available Now!

April 2025
“The (In)Visible Work”

This WSM edition is about illuminating the invisible work while outsmarting burnout and finding joy in the journey. 

Read the full April edition »

 

 

An educational collaboration by WSMA and PBS Wisconsin Education

Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
In a state-wide survey and listening sessions with music educators, we learned about the need for current, authentic, culturally diverse resources, as well as support in teaching with and about music from different cultures. This multimedia collection for general music programs serving grades 4-8 includes video interviews with Wisconsin musicians, performances, audio files, and educator engagement guides designed to help activate the media with learners.
Learn More »

Contact Us

Wisconsin School Music Association 1005 Quinn Drive
Waunakee, WI 53597
608.850.3566
800.589.9762

Business Hours:
M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Quick Links

  • Advertising Opportunities
  • Board Access
  • Professional Learning Opportunities
  • Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music
  • Wisconsin Center for Music Education
    • Host an Event at the Center
  • WSMA Branding & Logo Use

Connect With Us

  • WSMA Public Page
  • WSMA Private Group
  • WSMA Twitter
  • WSMA Instagram

partner organizations

  • Wisconsin Music Educators Association
  • Wisconsin Foundation for School Music


WSMA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. DMCA Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Wisconsin School Music Association · Log in