Campus Connection

Thousands of dedicated middle and high school student musicians from across the state are preparing for the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Solo & Ensemble Festival. UW-La Crosse will host one of the statewide events from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the Center for the Arts, Centennial Hall and Graff Main Hall. The festival is free and open to the public. "The WSMA State Music Festival is an enriching experience for all participants, both performers and their supporters,” says UW-L Music Professor Tammy Fisher, festival manager for the La Crosse event. “It is also an opportunity for our music program to showcase our facilities and emphasize how much we value and support the efforts of our school music colleagues, their students and their families.” Students must earn a “starred first” rating in Class A (which consists of the most difficult music) at a WSMA District Music Festival to qualify for WSMA State Music Festivals. The participants, in grades 6–12, can choose from a variety of instrumental and vocal solo and ensemble categories for their performances in district festivals throughout the state. Over the past six months, WSMA has held more than 225 such events, involving more participants than any other student activity. "Wisconsin music students continue to excel in their level of achievement and dedication to excellence,” according to WSMA Executive Director Tim Schaid. “The WSMA State Music Festival provides a quality opportunity for them to share the talents and skills developed in the classroom while creating a lifelong memory through their state festival performance." Nine other university campuses will host performances by more than 32,000 students, making this event one of the largest of its kind in the nation. UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater are holding festivals April 25. Cardinal Stritch University, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside and UW-Stevens Point festivals will also be held May 2. An evening Jazz Festival will take place May 1 at Green Bay Preble High School. Learn more about WSMA State Music Festivals and other programs by visiting www.wsmamusic.org. Festival information, including schedules and results, will be posted as available.  Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 100,000 students participate in over 220,000 events for WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, Concert Festivals, State Honors Music Project, State Marching Band Championships, Launchpad and Student Composition Project. WSMA, headquartered in the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.