HISTORY: The Hays CISD Children's Choral Festival was originally founded as the Central Texas Elementary Choral Festival by the elementary music team of Hays CISD in 2013 (at the time, led by former Hays CISD educators Sarah Martinez and Monika Matthes). The goal was to provide the young choirs of Hays CISD and surrounding districts with a performance and adjudication opportunity. When the contest evolved to include middle school non-varsity choirs, it became known as the Central Texas Children's Choral Festival. In 2022, the name was changed again to reflect the host district, Hays CISD. 

TIME & LOCATION: The festival is at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center (979 Kohler's Crossing, Kyle, TX 78640) and runs from 8:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm  depending on the number of registered choirs. 

FEE: $100 for each non-Hays CISD group entered. Hays CISD choirs receive free registration. 

ELIGIBILTY:  The contest is open to elementary choirs and middle school non-varsity choirs. Since it is an extracurricular event, the rule of "No Pass, No Play" applies to all participants. 

JUDGES: There will be a panel of 3 judges in Concert and 3 judges in Sight-Reading.

ADJUDICATION: All adjudication scores--for both Concert and Sight-Reading (and corresponding awards)--will be based on the choir's majority score received. For instance, a score of 1-1-2 will be considered a 1 while a 1-2-2 score will be considered a 2. Each Middle School and Elementary Choir will receive written critiques of their performances in Concert, including a number rating. (1-5, 1=Superior).  

TIME PREFERENCES (UPDATED): Elementary and Secondary non-varsity choirs are no longer restricted to their respective former AM or PM warm-up times. Now each choir can select an hour-long window between 8:00 am -3:30 pm. The hour includes warmup, concert, sight-reading, and wait time for scores. The assigned time slot will be the choir's warm-up time. Choirs should arrive about 15 minutes early before their warm-up time to check in and give kids a chance to use the restroom. Regardless of time preferences, we'll accommodate what we can but preferences are not guaranteed.