LMEA has reinstated the State Large Ensemble Assessments to provide schools who have
qualifying ensembles the opportunity to proceed to a higher level of evaluation and
recognition. This assessment will be in person at Northwestern State University. The State
Choral Large Ensemble Assessment will be April 15-16 and the Band and Orchestra Assessment
will be held April 20-24.
Qualifying Ensembles
- Bands, choirs, and orchestras must have participated for ratings in both stage performance and sight-reading at the current academic year’s District Large Ensemble Assessment and earned a superior rating in stage performance and no lower than an excellent in sight-reading. There will be NO sight-reading at State Assessment.
- Groups must enter in the same classification used at the qualifying District Large Ensemble Assessment.
- Ensemble membership and the director of the ensemble must not change from the District Assessment.
- Teachers who are current members of LMEA/NAfME may enter an ensemble in this event. Those who are not an members of LMEA/Nafme may enter and pay the non membership fee of $150.
Deadlines
- Deadline for submitting the online registration form is Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (midnight).
- Postmark deadline for submitting school check is Friday, April 3, 2026.
- Late registrations and/or postmarks cannot be accepted.
Fees (per ensemble)
- Bands and Orchestras: $250
- Choirs: $200
- Directors will have the option to pay by school check or credit card. (a small processing fee is added for credit card payments)
- School checks should be made out to LMEA and mailed with a copy of your auto-confirmation to:
Sharon McNamara-Horne, Interim Executive Director
18449 Hosmer Mill Rd.
Covington, LA 70435
- Your registration is not complete until payment is received. Student entries cannot be adjudicated if payment has not been received.
Registration Forms
A registration receipt is auto-emailed to the email provided in your registration. It can be printed and turned in to your bookkeeper.
If you need help, please email [email protected].
- If a school is registering multiple ensembles, please submit a separate form for each ensemble.
- Late registrations cannot be accepted.
Performance Maximum Time Limits
- Middle School Bands and all Orchestras: 20 minutes
- High School Bands: 30 minutes
- All Choirs: 20 minutes including a stage warm up.
Music
- Schools must own original copies of all music performed.
- (3) Original Scores are required for the judges.
- Any director using an e-print score must also upload the confirmation of purchase.
- All selections must follow the current LMEA Large Ensemble Assessment Classification and Performance Requirements.
Ratings
- All ratings and adjudication processes will follow the current LMEA Standards of Adjudication.
- The final rating for the performance is determined from the compilation of individual ratings from each of the three judges.
- A State Superior Ensemble Trophy will be awarded to an ensemble receiving an overall rating of Superior and will constitute a Sweepstakes award.
- There will be no Sight Reading at the State Assessment.
Awards
- TO ORDER STUDENT MEDALS for individual ensemble members of bands, choirs, or orchestras rating I (superior) in concert:
- Directors may purchase medals directly from LMEA by submitting the LMEA Awards Order Form.
- Each order must be certified by the appropriate assessment chairman or District Director.
- For further information contact: Sharon McNamara-Horne, Interim Executive Director at [email protected]