Festivals

2023 Large Ensemble Festival Registration

Large Group Festival Schedule:

Please see the current confirmed Bay Section Festivals here.


Large Group Festival Registration forms are now closed. 

If you would still like to register, or need to make a change to your registration, please contact Large Group Festival Co-coordinator Greg Conway

Important information before registering: 

  1. You will need your NAfME ID number for registering on the google doc. This link will take you to the NAfME login page.  
  2. You may register up to 5 ensembles on one registration form.  For additional ensembles (more than 5) please submit additional forms. There is no limit on the number of ensemble that may be registered from a school.
  3. Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with in-district (or feeder district) schools receiving 1st priority and in-area schools (North, South, East, West, Valley) receiving 2nd priority. If you are an in-district (or feeder district) school and would like to be prioritized for your in-district festival, you must complete registration by Sept 21, 2022. Any further site host questions should be directed to our Large Group Festival Co-coordinator Greg Conway.
  4. Determine your ensemble classification via the Classification Information document.

If you register for a festival and there is not room, we will make every effort to work with you and get your group into a Bay Section Festival that works for your ensemble. You will receive follow-up confirmation of your festival site from one of our festival site coordinators. 


In-person Festival Health Guidelines

Each festival site should follow state, county, and their district guidelines as it pertains to masking, bell covers, social distancing, and proper hygiene measures.


CMEA Comes To You

CMEA Comes To You is now open! CMEA Comes To You provides three Bay Section Adjudicators to come out to your school and adjudicate your group. You will receive a rating and written and verbal feedback. This festival does not include a sight-reading option. Please use this link if you are interested in registering your group: CMEA Comes to You Registration.

Last year, this festival format was a fantastic option for groups that could not travel or had other time constraints for participating in a regular large group festival. If you have any questions you may contact our CMEA Comes To You chair Phil Aduan.

CMEA Comes to You Guidelines

  • Adjudication sheets will be mailed to each site prior to the festival
  • Schools should make special accommodations at their school for this adjudicated performance
  • Schools should have an adequate performance space that includes an area with tables for adjudicators (theaters preferred)
  • Schools will be scheduled in AM time blocks (9am-12pm) or PM time slots (1pm-4pm)
  • Directors with multiple groups should plan on scheduling all of their ensembles to perform back to back in the designated time slot. We cannot provide adjudication for groups during a class period (i.e. group 1 during 2nd period, and group 2 during 5th period).
  • Groups with one ensemble will be scheduled in a 50 minute time slot for performance + clinic
  • Groups with two ensembles will have a time block of 100 minutes for performances + clinics
  • Groups with three ensembles will have a time block of 2.5 hours for all performances + clinics
  • Schools that would like to schedule more than three groups, including combining with other schools within their district, should contact Phil Aduan.
  • Directors will be responsible for printing all evaluation materials for judges (to be posted on the website)
  • This festival will follow all guidelines all procedures for a large ensemble festival, including time limits, performance guidelines, and providing music scores for all adjudicators
  • Groups will NOT be required to sight-read and will not be eligible for a Unanimous Superior plaque