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 virtual only during the 2024-25 school year.
Beginning in 2026, there will be an in-person assessment.
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.
- 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.
- Only teachers who are current members of LMEA/NAfME may enter an ensemble in this event.
Deadline
- Deadline for submitting the online registration form is Friday, April 11, 2025 (midnight).
- Postmark deadline for submitting school check is Saturday, April 12, 2025.
- Upload deadline for submitting copies of music scores and audio recordings (mp3 only) is Monday, April 14, 2025 (midnight). (a link will be sent once registration is received)
- Late registrations, postmarks, or uploads 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 Scotty Walker, Executive Director, 410 Holden Ave., Lafayette, LA 70506. Postmark deadline must be observed as submissions cannot be adjudicated unless registration fee has been received.
Forms
- All registration will be online.
- If a school is registering multiple ensembles, submit a separate form for each ensemble.
- Recordings (.mp3 file) and scores of the music performed will be submitted to an individual school folder in LMEA’s google drive. A link will be sent by the Executive Director once an ensemble’s registration is received.
- Late registrations cannot be accepted.
Performance Maximum Time Limits
- Middle School Bands and all Orchestras: 15 minutes
- High School Bands: 20 minutes
- Elementary and Middle School Choirs: 10 minutes
- High School Choirs: 15 minutes
Music
- Ensembles must submit at least two (2) selections, one of which must be from the prescribed music list.
- Schools must own original copies of all music performed. A copy of each performance selection must be into the Google folder with the ensemble’s performance recording. Music will be used only for the purpose of adjudication. All copies will be destroyed after the adjudication is complete.
- 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.
Recordings
- Each ensemble will submit a single audio recording (mp3) of the ensemble’s performance selections.
- The space between selections should be minimal (5-10 seconds).
- All recordings must be edited to remove any comments or introductions related to the performance or the ensemble and any pre- or post-performance applause.
Some examples of unethical and unacceptable recording practices:
- Editing or splicing within a single composition or movement is not allowed.
- Any engineering, audio processing, or tampering with the recording to alter or enhance the performance is unacceptable.
- Any other practice which could be construed as being unprofessional, unethical, or in violation of the spirit and purpose of the evaluation is prohibited.
The following are allowable edits of recording submissions:
- Editing to eliminate excess time between selections is allowed.
- Editing to eliminate audience applause is allowed.
- Matching the overall volume between selections is allowed.
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 Plaque will be awarded to an ensemble receiving an overall rating of Superior.
- Ensemble directors will be notified of their rating and receive their adjudication sheets by May 1, 2025.
Guidelines for Listening Panel
- All recordings will be sent to a 3-member, out-of-state, listening panel chosen by the Executive Director with input from members of the LMEA Board.
- Each person on the panel will adjudicate the recordings and rate them according to the LMEA standards of adjudication.
- At least one person on the panel will have had experience at the elementary or middle school level.