MPA Policies

As of November 9, 2024, the MPA Policies and Procedures have been updated. Most of these updates focus on vocabulary changes. Please take a moment to review the updated document.

Purpose:  To allow performers the opportunity to be assessed against a high standard of excellence based on their performance(s), and to give students and choral directors a chance to see other choral groups in their locale.

Eligibility: 

• Directors must have an active NAfME membership during the event. 

  1. Participants must be actively enrolled in their school's Vocal Music program, grades 6-8. 

Policies and Procedures:

• Registration:

  1. Directors must register their school(s) for the region where it is located. This can be done by clicking 'Find Your Event' in the navigation bar above and locating your county. If participation in an event in another region is necessary, the director should contact the Student Activities Coordinator by December 15th of the current year; otherwise, the request will not be considered. All request emails should CC the school's principal and receive a verified response from the principal. The request must be approved by the Student Activities Coordinator and then by the Site Coordinator of the event they wish to attend.

  2. All registration forms and payments must be completed and postmarked by the February 1st deadline using the CheddarUp Platform. Schools that register after the February 1st deadline will be offered whatever time slots are available at the site, if any.

     • At the close of registration, Site Coordinators will work to create the event schedule, which will be emailed to directors within a week of the February 1st deadline. Do not contact Site Coordinators with requests to expedite the scheduling process.

  3. The participation fee to participate in MPA, as of August 2024, is $150.00 per ensemble.

     • This fee can be paid via school check, personal check, booster check, money order, or online through CheddarUp.

  4. Refunds will not be given if a director cancels an ensemble's performance. However, refunds will be provided if there has been an overpayment. For example, if registration costs $125 but a payment of $130 is made, a $5 refund will be issued. This policy ensures fairness and clarity in financial transactions related to our events.

• Performance Participation:

  1. After registration is completed, your Site Coordinator will follow up with an email containing all pertinent information, as well as the Ensemble Registration form.

  2. Groups may participate for "ratings and comments" or "comments only".

     • Groups receiving ratings and comments will be evaluated by adjudicator(s) and awarded a rating of superior, excellent, average, below average, or poor, based on their performance.

     • Groups receiving comments only will be evaluated by adjudicator(s), but will not be awarded a rating.

  3. Each group will prepare from memory two selections of equal difficulty, not to exceed 10 minutes of performance time. 

     • Directors cannot re-program repertoire that was previously programmed during their time with the school within two years.

       • If a director is new to the school and is unsure of what was previously programmed, they should reach out to their event coordinator or predecessor for information.

     • Directors may not choose the same music for Small Ensemble or Large Ensemble within the same year or the two years.

  4. In selecting repertoire, directors may utilize the MPA Repertoire List. Selecting repertoire from the list is encouraged, but not required.

     • By not selecting repertoire from the list, your ensemble will be considered a "Grade I" ensemble.

     • If the director chooses at least one selection from the repertoire list and achieves a Superior rating, your ensemble will be classified based on the grade of the piece chosen from the list. For instance, if your group performs a Grade II piece from the list along with another piece not on the list, you will be classified as a "Grade II Ensemble." This classification is straightforward and directly correlates with the grade of the repertoire selected and performed with excellence.

     • If the director chooses both selections from the repertoire list and the ensemble achieves a Superior rating, the group will be classified based on the higher grade of the selected pieces. For instance, if the ensemble performs one Grade II piece and one Grade III piece, they will be classified as a "Grade III" ensemble. This classification is determined by the highest grade level piece performed and the achievement of a Superior rating.

     • Broadway and pop settings of repertoire are not appropriate for MPA performance.

     • Performances must be accompanied by piano, percussion, or a cappella. No performance tracks are permitted.

     • Although we value it, we don't encourage non-singing artistry in MPA performances. This means we prioritize singing above other forms of artistic expression during our events.

  5. There is no size limitation (minimum or maximum) of an ensemble for Large MPA. However, it is important to consider your venue when preparing your ensemble. 

  6. The maximum number of participants in a Solo/Small Ensemble performance is 20 singers.

  7. Ensembles will be adjudicated by a panel of three adjudicators, who are all credible choral educators with a middle school background, with an additional adjudicator for sight-singing.

  8. The scoring process for Large Ensemble MPA is based on a “majority vote” system. Therein, an ensemble earns a rating based on the most common rating based on the three adjudicators’ scoring. For example, if two adjudicators find an ensemble to be “Superior” and one adjudicator finds an ensemble to be “Excellent”, the ensemble is awarded an overall “Superior” rating for performance; if two adjudicators find an ensemble to be “Excellent” and one adjudicator finds an ensemble to be “Superior”, the ensemble is awarded an overall “Excellent” rating for performance.

  9. Ensemble groups are required to vary their repertoire every two years under the same conductor. For instance, John Doe's 8th Grade Chorus at St. John's Middle School cannot repeat the same music in consecutive years with him as their director. However, if John Doe leaves the school or a new director is hired, the ensemble may revisit music from the previous two-year cycle.

  10. At the end of the MPA event, directors will receive their sheet music, scoring rubrics, and MPA certificate.

      • Ensembles earning a superior rating will receive a plaque order form, as well as an invitation to apply for NCMEA Conference Performance Choirs.

• Sight-Singing Policies:

  1. Sight-Singing is a required component of the Large Ensemble MPA experience, but can be done for ratings and comments or comments only. 

  2. Sight-Singing is NOT required for Solo/Small Ensemble MPA sites.

  3. Sight-Singing is evaluated separately from performance, and not included as part of the performance rating.

  4. The Student Activities Coordinator is responsible for either appointing a member of the Middle School Choral Executive Board to secure the writing of the sight-singing examples OR writing the examples themselves, being sure to follow the criteria linked here.

  5. There will be no observers for sight-singing.

  6. Sight-Singing will take place in a separate setting, away from the main performance space.

• Sight-Singing Procedure:

  1. The ensemble will enter the sight-singing room quietly, avoiding disrupting the sight-singing materials, which should be closed and placed underneath chairs or in the center of a table.

  2. Once the ensemble has settled, the adjudicator will begin reading the Sight-Singing Script (linked here). The director and ensemble will follow all instructions as prescribed to complete the sight-singing process.

  3. During the discussion periods, directors are free to answer questions, but may not demonstrate any of the rhythms or melodies in the exercises.

  4. Rhythmic Sight-Singing will only be performed once.

  5. Melodic Sight-Singing can be performed twice with a discussion period in between performances.

     • Directors may establish the tonality of the exercise using a piano, tuning fork, or by voice.

     • The sight-singing exercise may be transposed to whatever key works best for your ensemble.

  6. The director may silently conduct the ensemble through the sight-singing exercises, but may not audibly keep the tempo.

  7. At the end of the sight-singing performance, the ensemble will return all materials to their original place and exit the room silently.

  8. All rehearsal periods and performance periods will be timed by either a smartphone, smartwatch, or stopwatch.

MPA Personnel:

• Adjudicators:

  1. Four adjudicators will be assigned to each MPA event, except for Vocal Solo/Small Group Performance Adjudication, where only one adjudicator will be assigned.

     • At MPA, three of the four adjudicators will assess each ensemble's performance of repertoire selections, while the remaining adjudicator assesses sight-singing.

     • At Vocal Solo/Small Group Performance Adjudication, the adjudicator assess individual performances and small group performances of up to 20 people.

  2. MPA Adjudicators will be current and active members of NAfME and active in NCMEA; Vocal Solo/Small Group Performance Adjudicators will be either current and active members of NAfME or another accredited music association.

  3. Adjudicators are selected based on their experience and qualifications as a choral director or teacher of voice and are paid a $250 honorarium for a day of service. This honorarium includes a mileage reimbursement of $0.55/mile from the adjudicator's home to the event venue and vice versa, a lodging offer and reimbursement for one dinner to any adjudicator who lives outside of a 2-hour one-way commute to their assigned site, but does not include breakfast.

  4. Lunch will be provided by the Site Coordinator

  5. Adjudicators are expected to provide specific commentary (written and recorded) in a positive, yet constructive manner that is easily understood by a middle school singer.

• Site Coordinators:

  1. Site Coordinators are appointed by either the Student Activities Coordinator or are recommended by a retiring Site Coordinator and approved by the Student Activities Coordinator.

  2. Site Coordinators are awarded an honorarium of $350 per day of their event, not to exceed $700.

  3. Site Coordinators should visit the NCMEA website to reference their duties and responsibilities as set forth by the NCMEA Middle School Choral Board.

  4. Site Coordinators are supplied with a site-based credit card, used to purchase materials required for running their site, including office supplies, meals for adjudicators, etc. 

     • Site Coordinators are expected to work within the means of their budget to operate their site. If there's any fear of going outside of the budget, this concern should be expressed to the Student Activities Coordinator and Section Chair immediately.

  5. Site Coordinators will be required to finalize all administrative work within fourteen (14) days of the event. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the honorarium.

• Volunteers:

  1. Site Coordinators are advised to recruit volunteers to assist with site operations. These volunteers should be proficient in following schedules, interacting with children, and upholding leadership standards.

  2. It is best practice that the Site Coordinator provide volunteers with, at minimum, lunch for their time. If the site's budget sees fit, the Site Coordinator can provide a small stipend, once discussed with and approved by the Student Activities Coordinator.