Greater Cleveland Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Contest Association RULES AND REGULATIONS (revised September 2016) 1. FEES: Solo Entry - $9.00 per entry Ensemble Entry - $5.00 per member (not to exceed 25 members) 2. Eligibility of Contestants: A. A contestant must be a student at one of the schools belonging to the Greater Cleveland Solo and Ensemble Contest Association. B. A contestant must be a participating member of the school instrumental music organization. A home-schooled student may enter the contest if the student is in one of the ensembles of the participating school s instrumental music department. School administrators must be away of the entry of a home-schooled student. Piano soloists may qualify by accompanying an instrumental performance in the contest or receiving approval from the instrumental music director of the participating school. C. Students in grades six through nine are eligible to enter the Middle School competition. Students in the 9th through 12th grade are eligible to enter the Senior High School competition. D. No player may compete in both middle school and high school ensembles. A student cannot enter more than four events. E. A player may enter a grade higher, but not lower, with the consent of his/her Director. F. Contestants are not required to memorize contest music, although the Committee recommends that solos be memorized. G. Contestants may play music approved by their Director. The limit of six minutes playing time will be observed for both solos and ensembles. H. Each soloists must provide his/her own accompanist. Piano accompaniment or interactive technical accompaniment is permissible. The performer must provide his/her own equipment. All solos with published accompaniments must be accompanied. If due to unforeseen circumstances an accompanist is unavailable the day of the contest, it is the performer s Director who is to determine if the student is to perform.
I. Snare drum solos will be unaccompanied. The contestants must be prepared to play any three of the 26 rudiments. Please use the official N.A.R.D Rudiments (Please see attached addendum). J. When there are two or more entries from one school in an ensemble event, the ensembles must be designated no. 1, 2, 3 etc. No individual may play in more than one ensemble in the same event. 3. EVENTS TO BE HELD: All solo entries will be divided into grade levels. Each school may enter any number of players in each grade in these events. However, a student may not participate in more than four different events. 1. Piccolo 2. Flute 3. Oboe 4. English Horn 5. Bb Clarinet 6. Alto Clarinet 7. Bass Clarinet 8. Bassoon 9. Soprano Saxophone 10. Alto Saxophone 11. Tenor Saxophone 12. Baritone Saxophone 13. French Horn 14. Trumpet 15. Trombone 16. Baritone (Euphonium) 17. Tuba 18. Snare Drum (unaccompanied) 19. Timpani (with or without accompaniment) 20. Mallet Instrument (with or without accompaniment) 21. Piano 22. Harp 22a. Classical Guitar 23. Violin 24. Viola 25. Cello 26. Double Bass 27. Multiple Percussion (for example, Drum Set)
The following events will not be divided into grades. However, directors may indicate grade level on the entry form to be included in the master schedule and rating sheet. Ensemble entries will be rejected if they do not conform to the instrumentation listed below. 28. Flute Trio - three flutes, with or without piano 29. Flute Quartet - four flutes unaccompanied 30. Clarinet Trio - three Bb clarinets unaccompanied 31. Clarinet Quartet - four Bb clarinets unaccompanied 32. Miscellaneous Clarinet Quartet - two Bb clarinets, alto and bass clarinet or misc. 33. Saxophone Quartet - four saxophones, any combination 34. Woodwind Trio - any three mixed woodwinds, with or without piano 35. Woodwind Quartet - flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon or bass clarinet 36. Woodwind Quintet - flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn 37. French Horn Quartet - four horns, unaccompanied 38. Trumpet Trio - three trumpets, with or without piano 39. Trumpet Quartet - four trumpets unaccompanied 40. Trombone Trio - three trombones with or without piano 41. Trombone Quartet - four trombones unaccompanied 42. Brass Quartet - miscellaneous 43. Brass Quintet - miscellaneous 44. Brass Sextet - miscellaneous 45. Miscellaneous Woodwind Duet - any two woodwinds with or without piano 46. Miscellaneous Brass Duet - any two brasses with or without piano 47. Miscellaneous Brass Trio - any three brasses with or without piano (careful of duplication of events 38 and 40) 48. Miscellaneous String Duet - any two strings with or without piano 49. Percussion Duet - any two percussion instruments unaccompanied 50. Percussion Ensemble - any combination of three to six instruments *51. Piano Trio - piano, violin, cello 52. String Quartet - two violins, viola, cello 53. String Quintet - two violins, viola, cello, bass or two violins, two violas, cello 54. String Trio - violin, viola, cello *55. Miscellaneous String Ensemble - three to six players; may or may not include piano, harp or any wind instrument. 56. Violin Quartet - four violins unaccompanied **57. Miscellaneous Woodwind Ensemble or Choir - may exceed five players, but not more than 25. **58. Bass Choir - must exceed six players, but not more than 25. **59. Percussion Ensemble - must exceed six players, but not more than 25. **60. String Ensemble - must exceed six players, but not more than 25. 61. Miscellaneous Duet - any two instrument combinations not included in the other categories.
62. Miscellaneous Trio - any three instrument combinations not included in the other categories. 63. Miscellaneous Quartet - any four instrument combinations not included in the other categories. 64. Miscellaneous Ensemble - five or more players, not to exceed 25, any instrumentation. *In events No. 51 and 55, the pianist must be a student of the participating school. All other accompanists will not be judged and may be any capable pianist of one s choosing. **Number of participants in events No. 57, 58, 59, and 60 will exceed six, but not more than 25. They may play with or without a director and the instrumentation will be dictated by the music. 4. Scale Requirements A. Contestants in the junior high/middle school division in all solo events except string bass, timpani, and snare drum will be asked to play three scales: a chromatic scale (exclude harp) and two major scales selected by the judge. Band: - Sixth Graders must know scales through two sharps and flats - Seventh Graders must know scales through three sharps and flats - Seventh Grade Strings must know scales through three sharps and two flats - Eighth Grade Strings must know scales through three sharps and two flats - Eighth Graders must know scales through four sharps and flats - Ninth Graders must know scales through five sharps and flats Strings: - Sixth Graders must know C, G, and D scales, one octave - Seventh Graders must know C, G, D, A, and F scales, one octave - Eighth Graders must know C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb and Chromatic Scales, one octave - Ninth Graders must know scales through five sharps and flats and chromatic, all two octaves B. Contestants in the senior high school division in all solo events except string bass, timpani and snare drum will be asked to play three scales: a chromatic scale (except harp) and two others as selected by the judge. Ninth through twelfth graders must know through five sharps and flats. C. The judge will designate each scale in the key of the instrument, not the concert key. D. Senior high school contestants who play flute, clarinet, mallet instruments, piano, harp,
violin, viola, and cello will be asked to play scales two octaves, ascending and descending. E. Scales are to be played evenly and smoothly at a tempo between 80bpm and 120bpm for each quarter note. F. String bass players in the junior high/middle school will be asked to play scales in the major keys of C and G. Senior high students will be asked to play scales in C, G, A, F, and Bb. G. Middle school string players will choose their chromatic scale. H. Contestants must perform scales from memory. I. Scale performances will be included in the final rating. 5. Full Scores for Adjudicators are Required: A. Each soloist must provide a printed score for the use of the adjudicator. Photocopies or other reproductions of printed scores are only to be used with approval of the Contest Chairman. The score should be presented to the Clerk at the time the contestant is playing. B. If a satisfactory copy of the solo is not presented, the committee will penalize the contestant by reducing the rating given by the adjudicator to the next lower rating. C. Each ensemble must provide a printed FULL score for the use of the adjudicator. Individual parts are not acceptable. If a full score is not published, a complete manuscript must be provided, not separate parts. If a full score for the ensemble is not provided, the committee will penalize the ensemble by reducing the rating to the next lower rating. D. Adjudicator s score copies for solo and ensemble events should have: - All cuts marked - Each measure numbered - All previous comments and marks erased 6. Entries A. All entries must be on the official computer form and signed by the director. B. Directors should make sure that the Grade Level and Event Number are filled out correctly. When sending entry blanks, please sort them in numerical order according to event numbers and grade level.
C. Deadlines will be enforced. The committee reserves the right to reject late or incorrect entries. Fees must be submitted along with entries. 7. Playing Schedules Playing schedules and rejected entries, along with contest information, will be sent out at least three weeks before contest. 8. Medals Medals may be purchased for Superior or Excellent ratings. The order blank will be available at the contest and online. Medals must be ordered by the deadline. There will be no free medals given out. 9. Miscellaneous A. No video, audio or digital electronic recorders are permitted in the performance rooms. B. The Association will consider directors not attending the contest for suspension. C. Any director who misses two consecutive Spring Meetings will be considered for suspension by the Association.