Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival is a very important part of the bands curriculum at Pioneer. Hosted by Livonia Franklin High School, the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District XII event allows participants to perform before an adjudicator either as part of an ensemble or as a soloist. Events receive ratings from I - V, with I being the best. Each event receives written comments from the adjudicator, and often receives a mini-clinic. Medals are awarded to events which receive I or II ratings.

Pioneer Symphony Band and Concert Band students are required to participate in District Solo & Ensemble Festival. Varsity Band members are strongly encouraged to participate.

Mr. Leach has a great deal of ensemble music available (just ask), while solo pieces can be chosen with the help of your private teacher. Students are encouraged to put together duets, trios, quartets, and quintets. Mr. Leach is often available after 7th hour to guide and encourage these small ensembles. Soloists and Ensembles should be aware that their music must be prepared and practiced outside of the regular classroom.

Students receiving a I Rating at the District XII Solo & Ensemble Festival may register for State Solo & Ensemble Festival, held each March at seven different sites across the state of Michigan. Each year’s State Festival date is in March (Please note that State Festival usually takes place the same Saturday as our Bands in Review Concert.) At State Festival, 10th through 12th grade soloists are required to take a Proficiency Examination, with scales and sight reading, State Festival Registration materials are available to those who qualify after District S&E Festival from Mr. Leach.

Soloists and members of Traditional Ensembles (e.g., woodwind and brass quintet) who excel at the State Festival level are often invited to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) held each May at Western Michigan University. Only 250 out of the more than 80,000 instrumental music students who participate at the district level across the state will be part of the MYAF Honors Band or Orchestra, and Pioneer High School sends a large percentage of MYAF members each year. The very highest level soloists are recommended by their State Festival adjudicators to audition to be one of five soloists to play with orchestral accompaniment at the MYAF. These soloists are required to play a concerto at State Festival, as orchestral accompaniment is required.

District Solo & Ensemble

• District S & E Registration, Requirements, and Fees
• Solo & Ensemble Expectations
• 2016 District S & E Schedule (password protected)

State Solo & Ensemble

• State S & E Registration, Requirements and Fees
• Solo & Ensemble Expectations
• 2016 State S & E Schedule (password protected)
• 2015 Solo and Ensemble Results
• 2014 State S & E Honors

While you can contact the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association online at www.msboa.org or by telephone at 800-967-2629, all registrations are done through Mr. Leach and the Pioneer Band Association.

State Solo & Ensemble Festival is Saturday March 19