By Iola-Scandinavia School District

WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival 2022 is right around the corner on Saturday, March 5, from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. at Amherst High School.

We have high school students taking 32 events in the categories of vocal solo, vocal ensemble, instrumental solo, and piano solo.

We have middle school students taking 13 events in the categories of vocal solo, vocal ensemble, instrumental solo, and instrumental ensemble.

Students have been preparing for the WSMA solo and ensemble festival day. This includes multiple one on one lessons with instructors, independent rehearsal time in and out of school, and performing for their peers.

This festival is a big deal in the world of music performance in Wisconsin. Students from our division of CWC will converge upon Amherst High.

They will have around 8-10 minutes to perform their solo for a WSMA certified adjudicator. This adjudicator listens and comments and scores the performance based on a rubric with a certain set of guidelines.

It’s nerve wracking, exhilarating and a brief glimpse into all the hard work these students have put in before this short little performance.

Shout out to all the families, parents, and community members who encourage our musically talented kids to keep making music!

And bravo/brava to all the students who are brave enough to put themselves out there into the world of live music performance.