2025 Reports

From UDP regarding recordings:

If, for any reason, an additional recording is needed, it must be requested by the director of the ensemble. A digital recording will be provided only to the director.  UDP West will send a digital copy of the files requested via email.

Please send all requests to:

udpwest@gmail.com 

For day of the Festival issues, District Presidents and Site Hosts are welcome to call or text Jeff West, owner UDP West at 586-612-4592 if needed.

Where do I find the sight reading ranges, key & time signatures, rhythms, etc?

Click on this link: UIL Sight Reading - Band & Orchestra

Note that we use UIL music with MSBOA rules - not UIL rules, which are on this page. Find MSBOA rules in the Yearbook at MSBOA.org.

What level will we sight read?

MSC/D = UIL Level 1 

MSA/B = UIL Level 2 

MSAA = UIL Level 3 

HSC/D = UIL Level 4 

HSA/B = UIL Level 5 

HSAA = UIL Level 6 

Thank you to Rebecca, Spencer, and Mitch for much help through this process.

The numbers for 2025:

181 ensembles at 14 sites

11-12 orchestras at each site

13-15 bands at each site 

The proposed afternoon/evening site had very little interest. No first choices.

92 workers in 140 half day work assignments

The Schedule for B&O Festival is now available on MSBOA.org. 

Thank you all for your patience and flexibility as the schedule has been built. I think most will be happy with this schedule. With a puzzle this big, Not everyone was able to get what they asked for but please know that no one was placed without looking carefully at their requests and trying to find something that will work. 

To view the B&O Schedule

Log in to MSBOA.org, 

Go to "Members Only" and select "Members Only Dashboard" (It might take you here automatically)

Scroll down to "View District 10 Master Schedule" and 

Select B&O Festival. S&E will come up as the default.

Changing times - performance times and work assignments

If you have more than one group performing and you want to swap them within the time frames you have been given, that is easy to do. Just let me know.

If the performance time or work assigment you have been given absolutely does not work for you, there are three options:

1. Ask a specific director to swap with you.

2. Email the DX google group asking for someone to switch. 

3. Ask me if I can put you somewhere else. I can't promise that I will be able to do this, but I will try.

If you make any swaps with another director, please let me know so I can adjust the program.

Program

You can update the program on MSBOA.org until they are printed, which will be February 4. I'll send another reminder about this as we get closer.

It is not required to have your pieces on the program, but it is nice for the adjudicators and the audience. Make sure to remove any place holder pieces.

Work assignments

Work assignments will be coming soon. Final adjustments being made now.

Why do some people have full days and some have half days?

We are offering more sites than in the past so that more ensembles can play within the highly coveted 9:30-1:30 time frame. With the number of sites we are offering there is no way to fill all the needed work assignments with everyone getting half day work assignments. 

District X members should assume a full day work assignment, and if you get a half day, then you won the work assignment lottery. In most cases, the schedule itself dictates where full days need to be placed and who is available to fill them. 

Administrivia:

• Everyone is now paid - we had one director use certified mail and be able to use that as proof that they had mailed their materials before the deadline. Recommended for everyone.

• We discovered a glitch in the website that caused one ensemble to not show up to be scheduled. We were able to catch this early which helped two other districts that had the same issue but had not caught it yet. Thanks to the state office for figuring that out!

Hosts for next year

• Assuming every host continues for next year (not something we really should assume) we are still in need of

  • One additional orchestra site. 

    • Jenison has stepped up this year by hosting 2 orchestra sites and a band site. No one should have to do that. This will give us 5 orchestra sites.

  • Two additional band sites. If we can offer more sites, more groups will get to play within their requested times. This will give us 12 band sites.

  • Advantages to hosting:

    • When you host, you get to dictate how your work assignments go. We will do what works for you because you are hosting.

    • You get one free ensemble (your most expensive) when you host, and you don't have to pay transportation!

Suggestions for next year:

• For the future, should we have a period during which schedules are published to directors but we ask members not to push the schedules out to their students and families for one week while initial scheduling concerns are worked out?

General Reminders for this year:

All members are encouraged to read the year book, pages 63-80 to familiarize yourself with the rules for B&O Festival.

• No amplified instruments are allowed unless specifically called for in the score. Page 68, #9

• All groups must have 3 original scores for each piece or no rating will be given. Order scores now.

• It is "recommended" that scores be numbered, but in practice, judges don't like it when they are given an unnumbered score. Number your scores.

• Scores must match the edition being performed - flex parts must have flex score.

• Flex editions are only allowed as your required piece if that specific flex edition is on the required list.

• For music purchased online, include proof of purchase with each set of scores. (The year book says it must be presented to the site chair. Help everyone out and include it with each set of scores.)

• Ensembles may enter at any classification, but only those entering at their level or higher are eligible for state. HS must be HS, MS must be MS.

• It is suggested to play the march / string selection first and required piece second but not required. This is suggested because ensembles must perform all of the march/string selection, and all of the required piece, and enough of the free-choice piece to allow for "sufficient adjudication."

• If you are planning to have groups from one ensemble help out another, see the year book, page 64, #7-9. The short version is that they have to be permanent members of that ensemble only. Full orchestra is the main exception.

• All groups must enter, perform, and leave the stage within the given time frame. Plan on being off stage before the next event is scheduled. Do not spend so much time tuning on stage that you are in danger of getting cut off.

• Ensembles are allowed to tune in the sight reading room. There are no specifications as to what "tuning" must look like. If you want to play a brief exercise or two to help your students feel comfortable in the room, you may. If you choose to do this, make sure it presents your group in a positive light.

• You must sight read at the level you entered.

• You may choose to go for comments only right up until you play the first note onstage. If you know ahead of time that you are playing for comments only, it is suggested to include a note about this with each set of scores.

If you have an issue with your recording

• Try restarting your computer and playing it again. Sometimes a computer with too many tabs open will create static indistinguishable from recording static.

• If you are sure there is a problem with your recording, email Matt and UDP immediately. UDP can address some problems the day of if we give them the chance to do so.

• Send recording concerns to: Jeff West at udpwest@gmail.com or 616-612-4592 and Matt at m3palmieri@gmail.com

Things to remind your students:

• Don't make comments about or to other bands except, "Good job." There is a wide range of groups that go to festival and every school is in a different place in their musical development. All students should be respected no matter where they and their school are in their musical journey. Some bands have class every day for an hour. Some bands meet once or twice a week for 30 minutes.

Things to include for each adjudicator: (this will go out in an email before festival)

• 3 original scores

• proof of purchase for music bought online

• documentation of music being in public domain if there is any chance of this being questioned

• Accommodations you entered on the website (or accommodations you didn't enter on the website but want the judges to be aware of) Accommodations must be documented and specific to the need.

• A finalized program for the judges and stage worker. 

  • Indicate if you are going for comments only. If playing for a rating, no indication is needed.

  • Optional: Use this link if you want a template to make programs for your adjudicators and stage room workers. Suggested to bring extra copies with you incase your sheet doesn't make it from the office to the stage. This template fits nicely in the frame of music themed stationary.

  • Give a copy of this to the office when you sign in and keep extra copies with you incase it doesn't make it from the office to the stage.

How to improve the website:

• If you have specific suggestions for how to improve the MSBOA.org website, send your suggestions with specific language to the state office. They are willing to make adjustments when specific suggestions are given. I have made several suggestions just this year that they have implemented quickly.

B&O Fall Report 2024

To register, complete all 4 steps below:

1. Generate your invoice at MSBOA.org. 

2. Fill out this google form. You'll get a confirmation email when complete.

3. Pay 

   • Check made out to MSBOA District 10 or

   • Use this link to pay by credit card

4. Mail signed invoice and check to Matt Palmieri. 

   • Signed invoices may be emailed to m3palmieri@gmail.com if you want. 

   • Please name your file "B&O Invoice-SchoolName-DirectorName".

Festival Deadlines for 2025:

• October 14 B&O registration will open

• December 6 Deadline for 2024 festival registration

• December 13 Late deadline with $50 fee is one week after regular deadline. 

  • Registrations sent after the late deadline will not be accepted. 

    • District X's late policy mirrors the state policy.

• January 31 Deadline for having information in for program

• Google Form required for registration to be complete. Click the link to the left.

District X Band & Orchestra Festival Fees

Middle School AA, A, B, C, & D, and High School C & D - $170

High School AA, A, & B - $190

Classification for Festival:

For Band/Orchestra Festival, directors can register their ensemble in ANY classification. Directors can pick music off any Basic Music List. (HS groups must play music off HS Lists. Ensembles that perform NOT at their school enrollment classification are NOT eligible for State Festival.  This is from page 65 in the MSBOA yearbook, B2.

Performance Times

Please be aware that many ensembles request a very narrow time slot to perform. In particular, 10:30-1:30 is a very common request. Judges also need to eat during this time frame. If you can perform earlier or later, please include those times on your request.

Times are filled based on who completes their registration first.

The schedule will be built using primarily the information on the Google form.

Emailing Invoices

Directors may mail hard copies of signed invoices with their check or email signed invoices to the chair. 

Regardless of delivery method, both checks and signed invoices must be postmarked or dated by the deadline to avoid late fees.

Please name the PDF file "Event Invoice - School name - Director name". 

For example, "B&O Invoice - Southwest HS - Matt Palmieri"

Also please use this format for the title of your email.

If this format for PDFs and emails is not used, you will not be penalized, but it is much appreciated by your event chairs as this saves time and helps keep things organized.

General Reminders:

• Please double check your classification now. This can be adjusted by the state office at anytime, but it is nice if it is right to start.

• If you can / would like to play on the after school date (2/27 @ GRCS), please make that your first choice. 

  • Intended for band, but orchestras may register if you are OK with a band focused panel.

• Members should expect full day work assignments. More full day work assignments are being given because we are hosting more dates so that more schools can play during the school day.

• Accommodations must be specific to the needs of the student and have documentation connecting the accommodation to the student.

  • Please communicate all accommodations to the chair before the event.

• Electronic instruments are not allowed unless specifically called for in the score. This usually comes into question regarding amplified bass, which is not allowed except as given in page 68 of the year book, quoted below:

  • "8. Electronic amplification of instruments will not be allowed at any Band & Orchestra Festival, except as stated in Rule 9. 

  • 9. Electronic instruments may be used in performance and sight-reading, provided they are specified in the score by the composer; or used in lieu of these instruments specified by the composer: piano, organ, celeste, harp or harpsichord."

• You must finish your performance within the specified time frame. (25 or 30 minutes from the beginning of your time)

  • This is why it is suggested (but not required) to play the required piece second, so that there is no chance of it being cut off. You must perform all of the march, all of your required piece and enough of the choice piece to be adequately adjudicated. If you are sure you will finish within your time frame, you can use whatever order you choose, but then you run the risk of not completing the required piece or march if you take a long time warming up on stage or stayed in the warm-up room too long. Not completing the march or required piece means no rating.

• Ensembles are allowed to tune in the sight reading room for up to two minutes. This does not have to include using a tuner. For example, you can play a few long tones and a quick articulation exercise to hear how the room sounds. 

• Report all issues with recording immediately to UDP & the B&O chair. We will try some additional ways to track this. More info on this at the winter meeting. (Fill out google form & email B&O chair & UDP contact.)

• Please review your work assignment descriptions before your work assignment and ask an experienced member or your host if you would like any guidance.

Host sites confirmed for 2025

• 2/25 Hastings Band 

• 2/26 EGR Band

• 2/26 Jenison Orch

• 2/27 Jenison Band

• 2/28 GRCS 8-4 Band

• 2/28 Allegan Band

• 2/28 Jenison Orch 2 

• 3/4 Grandville Band 1

• 3/4 Lakewood Band

• 3/5 WO Band

• 3/6 Grandville Band 2

• 3/6 WO Orch

• 3/7 GRPS City Middle/High Band 

• 3/7 Calvin Orch