When I Apply
- Q. Can I change my music festival date without penalty?
- Yes, based on availability, date changes can be made until 60 days before your festival performance.
- Q. How exact do my numbers have to be when I apply?
- When you register, the number on your registration helps us determine the largest performing group, so enough equipment will be provided at the performance site. Indicate your largest anticipated attendance (your grade/attendance book would be a good starting point). Your final numbers must be determined 14 days prior to the festival competition.
- Q. Do you include transportation?
- The focus of OrlandoFest is to provide a music festival. We have had the opportunity to work with many excellent tour operators who have booked transportation in the past. If you are interested in working with a tour operator, the following website is a great resource: Student Youth Travel Association
- Q. Is there a registration fee to sign up for a festival?
- Yes, a $100 registration fee is required for each ensemble per school.
- Q. Can I print out a registration form to apply?
- Yes, please click here (pdf) to find a registration form to fax to 407-313-4289.
- Q. If a student is in more than one ensemble, do they have to pay twice?
- Absolutely not. We encourage students to be well-rounded and involved in several performing groups. Your invoice will reflect the total number of students and total number of adults attending OrlandoFest.
- Q. If I have five performing groups (concert band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, choir and marching) will all of the directors travel FREE?
- For each registration, OrlandoFest provides two (2) free director packages (as applies to your performing groups).
- Q. If a meal/park admission is involved with the festival package, can we choose not to take it?
- We do not offer a “festival only” option; however, groups not attending the attraction, in most cases, will not be able to attend the awards ceremony.
- Q. My group MUST perform in the morning. Can you guarantee this?
- We will do our best to accommodate your request, but we suggest that you keep the entire day free until your performance times have been determined. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee specific performance times for any group. We suggest you contact our festival director periodically to check on the status of your festival and to confirm how many schools are attending your festival location.
- Q. Can you guarantee we’ll have competition at the festival?
- Unfortunately not. Festival attendance is determined by the number of applications that are sent to our office. Schools choose their festival destinations based on prior trips and their school calendar.
- Q. We’d like to participate in a “street” parade — is this possible?
- For competing parade bands, our parade band adjudication is held at Universal Studios® on Friday mornings. You may also add a non-competitive parade march by requesting a Universal Stars performance in addition to your OrlandoFest performance. Please contact the OrlandoFest team for further information.
- Q. We’re a middle school group. Do many middle schools sign up for OrlandoFest?
- While most of our participating schools for OrlandoFest are high schools, we do have a handful of middle school/junior high school groups that travel to participate in OrlandoFest. We offer both competitive and non-competitive adjudication options, including our performing arts workshops. These workshops are an excellent opportunity for those middle school/junior high school groups should they require both an educational and non-competitive component to their trip.
- Q. How do I decide which classification best fits my group?
- Classifications and Divisions:
- Concert Band, Full and String Orchestra, and Concert Choir
- High School A
High School AA
High School AAA
High School AAAA
Junior High / Middle School
- Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Ensembles
- High School Open Division
Junior High / Middle School
- Chamber and Specialty Choirs (Madrigal, Women’s, Men’s, Gospel, Show Choir)
- High School Open Division
Junior High / Middle School
- Parade Band
- High School Open Division
Junior High / Middle School
- Percussion (Marching Percussion, Concert Percussion)
- High School Open Division
Junior High / Middle School
- Auxiliary
(Dance / Drill Teams, Indoor Color Guards, Flag Teams, Rifle Teams, Baton Teams)
- High School Open Division
Junior High / Middle School
- Q. How do I determine the grade level of music my group is performing?
- You may check any state listing; call the publisher of the piece or contact your local music store to determine the grade level of your music.
About the Awards Ceremony :
- Q. Where does the OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony take place?
- The OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony will be held at Universal Studios® at the Animal Actors Stage located inside the Universal Studios® theme park near the Simpsons attraction.
- Q. When does the OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony take place?
- The OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony is held each Saturday evening at 7:30 pm during the scheduled OrlandoFest dates. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ARRIVE BEFORE PARK CLOSING AND TO HAVE YOUR GROUP GATHER AT THE ANIMAL ACTORS STAGE AT 6:45 PM, INSIDE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS®.
- Q. Do we really need to attend the Awards Ceremony?
- It is highly recommended that you attend the awards ceremony. As part of the unique and total educational experience, we feel your students should have the opportunity to be recognized for their achievements by their peers. The OrlandoFest awards ceremony takes on the theme of a true Hollywood awards ceremony, something you do not want to miss. Please click here for more details.
- Q. Do we need to use our Universal park admission to the OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony?
- Yes, as part of your OrlandoFest package, you will need to utilize your Universal ticket for the awards ceremony.
- Q. Can Universal Studios® store our awards after the awards ceremony?
- Unfortunately, Universal Orlando® does not have the resources to store your awards. You may want to have a bus driver or one of your chaperones available to take the awards to your bus. Most of the time, you will be exiting Universal at the end of the awards ceremony.
- Q. Do you have reserved seating at the awards ceremony?
- In some instances we may have reserved seating — in most cases, however, we do not. Groups are free to sit wherever they wish.
- Q. What happens if it rains?
- In the event of rain, Universal Studios® will not close unless the weather threatens your safety. Some of the Universal attractions may close for safety reasons. The OrlandoFest Awards Ceremony will take place at its scheduled time and location, as the awards ceremony is held in a covered location. However, for the well-being of your students, the OrlandoFest staff has the right to cancel the awards ceremony and distribute awards and score sheets to the directors.
- Q. If we need to leave the park/attraction before the awards ceremony, what do we do?
- Please notify our OrlandoFest team that you will not be attending the awards ceremony. You may be able to pick up your awards and judges’ score sheets before you depart for home — depending on your departure time, special arrangements can be made to do this.
- Q. Why wasn’t an overall award presented for middle school jazz bands?
- There must be two groups performing in a category in the same division (e.g. high school, middle school, etc.) for an overall award to be presented. If we only have one middle school jazz band and three high school jazz bands, the only groups eligible for the Overall Jazz Ensemble trophy would be a high school group. An overall award will not be presented if there is only one high school/middle school/elementary school group within a specific category.
Performance Venues :
- Q. What type of performance venues does OrlandoFest utilize for the festival competition?
- When your ensemble participates in OrlandoFest, you will perform before nationally renowned adjudicators in a state-of-the-art performing arts center, which accentuates your ensemble’s performance. Our goal is to provide first-class performance venues for our festival competition. OrlandoFest has secured state-of-the-art performing arts centers at several local Orlando high schools. These performance venues are located in close proximity to Universal Orlando® Resort.
- Q. Can the performance venue site provide a pre-planned lunch/dinner for my group?
- Yes. OrlandoFest has arranged for an on-site concession stand to be available during the festival competition site for lunch and dinner time frames. Please contact the OrlandoFest team or your travel planner to make arrangements.
- Q. Do you supply platform risers and monitors for show choir groups?
- No — OrlandoFest will provide three-step choral risers, four microphones and an acoustic piano. Please limit your props and additional sound equipment. Your group will have 30 minutes to set up, perform and clear the stage.
- Q. What equipment is provided for our performance?
- OrlandoFest provides the following equipment for instrumental groups — four timpani, bass drum, xylophone, chimes, piano, four microphones (jazz ensemble only), chairs and music stands. We provide the following for choral groups — piano, choral risers and four microphones. Schools must provide their own mallets for the various instruments.
- Q. I have students performing in multiple groups — are there changing facilities available for them?
- Dressing rooms will not be available at the performance venue, but bathrooms can be used for changing purposes. Keep in mind that park guests will be using these bathrooms — please keep changing needs to a minimum. We strongly suggest that your group arrive at the festival competition site in their performance attire.
Adjudication :
ADJUDICATION (PERFORMANCE):
- Q. Can I change from “rating only” to “competition,” from class “A” to class “AA,” etc.?
- Yes, you can change the status of your performance and their classification at any time up until one (1) month prior to your festival date. We suggest you do this in writing via email or fax. If changes are made after the performance schedule has been mailed, you will not be sent another schedule.
- Q. May I photocopy music and/or scores?
- Photocopying is illegal. Please check our performance guidelines for additional information.
- Q. Do I need a score for my warm-up piece?
- No, scores are only required for adjudicated selections.
- Q. Can our choir use taped accompaniment?
- Yes, but only if there are no vocal parts on the taped accompaniment.
- Q. Do we have to take the clinic session and if we don’t, does this count against us?
- No. The clinic session is not mandatory — just notify the OrlandoFest festival director that you would not be interested in doing this. There is no penalty for groups deciding not to participate in the clinic session. This is an opportunity for the adjudicators to interact directly with the students, refine areas of performance, and reinforce teaching objectives.
- Q. Do you have a required music list?
- No. The director has the sole discretion in selecting music that they feel is appropriate for their students.
- Q. Do you have suggestions on resources for festival etiquette?
- For some suggestions, please visit the National Association for Music Education (MENC) website by clicking here.
- Q. Is there a limit to the number of performing groups I can bring to the festival?
- Choral groups are limited to four performance time slots, and no more than six instrumental ensembles. This is necessary in order to ensure that all performing groups may receive a clinic session. If choral groups are scheduled back to back, warm-up times must be incorporated into the listed times. Two-hour time blocks will be reserved for groups with six performing choirs — you will have one 25-minute warm-up time prior to performing back to back.
- Q. What happens if we get lost or we are late for our adjudication time?
- Don’t panic — when you arrive at the adjudication site, our staff will do everything possible to place you in a later available time slot. Groups that arrive late are not disqualified.
- Q. Does OrlandoFest provide accompanists for choral groups?
- We do not provide accompanists for any of our performing groups.
- Q. How many scores do I need to bring?
- There will be three judges adjudicating your performance. You will need to bring three original scores for each adjudicated selection. Measures must be numbered on each score for the adjudicator.
- Q. Can we videotape our performance or take pictures during the performance?
- Videotaping would be at the discretion of your director. We would encourage you to refrain from taking flash photos during the performance of the two adjudicated selections. Photos may be taken before and during the warm-up selection on stage.
Payment and Cancellation :
- Q. When is full payment due for our OrlandoFest performance?
-
- A registration fee of $100 per ensemble per school is due with your registration form.
- Your 1st payment, 50 percent of your balance, is due 60 days prior to your performance.
- Your final payment, full/remaining account balance, is due 30 days prior to your performance.
- You can find a full payment schedule here.
- Q. What if my numbers drop the week of the festival competition — do we receive a refund?
- Refunds will be made for individual cancellations only if received, in writing, before the final count deadline (21 days before the festival competition). However, if you are using a travel planner, other cancellation penalties may apply. You should refer to the travel planner’s cancellation policy for details.
No refund will be issued for individual cancellations within twenty-one (21) days of departure.
- Q. When will I receive my refund?
- Refunds will be sent 30 days after your festival competition date.
- Q. When do you need our final numbers for the festival competition?
- Final numbers are due 21 days prior to the date of your festival competition.
- Q. Do you carry insurance on each student participant?
- OrlandoFest is fully insured for our festival competition, awards ceremony, and performing arts workshops only. Additional student insurance is, in most cases, at the discretion of your school administration. If additional insurance is deemed necessary, school officials or your tour operator can generally provide a more economical rate.
