2026 State Solo & Ensemble Information - Coming Soon!​

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​Overview

The State Solo & Ensemble Festival is open to all Maryland public and private school music students in grades 6-12 who have earned a Superior (I) rating on a solo or ensemble performance of a music grade 2 or higher at the Maryland District Solo & Ensemble Festival. Students must perform music from the MMEA approved repertoire lists.

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Qualifying Solos & Ensembles must have participated in one of the following district/county events:

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District 1 – Prince George’s County

District 2 – Montgomery County

District 3 – Anne Arundel County

District 4 – St. Mary’s County

District 5 – Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties

District 6 – Harford County

District 7 – Baltimore County

District 8 – Carroll County

District 9 – Allegany and Garrett Counties

District 10 – Baltimore City

District 11 – Charles County

District 12 – Calvert County

District 13 – Howard County

District 14 – Frederick County

District 15 – Washington County

District 16 – Cecil County

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The Goals of the Festival are to:

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• Provide an opportunity for wind, percussion, vocal, and string students to perform musical literature for evaluation alone and in groups.

• Provide an opportunity for students to select and prepare solo and ensemble literature for performance.

• Encourage students to perform solo literature.

• Provide a formative tool so students can self-evaluate and receive quality feedback about their technique and performance.

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Component Policy & Procedure Reference 

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MMEA is following the most recent set of Policy and Procedures for MBDA, MCEA, and MODA, linked below. Please reference the following Policy & Procedures.

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Note - for registration processes and financial matters, please reference the information on this page and not the information in the Policy & Procedures linked below. In addition there are some updated policies in relation to district events and the approach to accompaniment.

 

Maryland Band Directors Association

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Maryland Choral Educators Association

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Maryland Orchestra Directors Association

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Dates & Locations

The 2026 State Solo & Ensemble Festival will be held in-person only. There will be no live-virtual or recorded submission options.

 

Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Component/Location TBA

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Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Component/Location TBA

 

Please note: Individual performance times will be released with the schedules. Caregivers will be able to request a time slot during the registration process. Scheduling requests are not guaranteed, however MMEA will work to accommodate as best as possible. 

 

Students performing in more than one solo or ensemble should be sure to coordinate with their fellow performers and accompanists to make sure all of them request the same time.

 

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​​Festival Application Timeline

To be announced.

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​​Questions and Communication

​To help facilitate this process, caregivers or students may need to communicate with MMEA staff for questions and support. We ask that the student’s music educator be copied on all messages to MMEA to assure transparency and accurate communication. MMEA staff will extend the same courtesy if staff needs to communicate with caregivers.

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Please contact MMEA Staff at mmeamarylandinfo@gmail.com with questions. 

 

MMEA Accessibility Request Form (Optional - must be completed by 5 days prior to the event) 

 

MMEA remains committed to advancing diversity and inclusion throughout music education to foster a welcoming and inclusive organization. Integrating the various learning needs and accommodations for students with a disability, IEP, or 504 is of the utmost importance. We continue to develop and implement operational policies and procedures for MMEA programs, products and services.

 

All requests are addressed on a case-by-case basis, and documentation must be provided. Please complete and submit this form to request accommodations.

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