W-ASTA/WWU State Orchestra Festival

Orchestra Festival dates and location

• Middle Schools - Friday, March 14, 2025
• High Schools - Saturday, March 15, 2025
• Performing Arts Center, Western Washington University

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About the Festival

Western Washington University Department of Music and The American String Teachers Association Washington State Chapter (W-ASTA) proudly offer a unique opportunity to have all aspects of your orchestra program assessed by outstanding adjudicators, with an emphasis on providing a high quality educational experience through expert comments and clinics for every ensemble.

Attending a state-level festival gives orchestra students an opportunity to listen to outstanding symphonic and string ensembles from throughout the region, including a performance by the Western Symphony Orchestra each day.

The W-ASTA/WWU State Orchestra Festival is open to W-ASTA and non-W-ASTA directors, as well as “non-school” ensembles such as youth symphonies and ensembles from private studios. Orchestras outside Washington State are also welcome.

Questions? Email orchestra.festival@wwu.edu.

Highlights

• Division for Small Ensembles – Trios, Quartets, Quintets, Octets
• Division for Chamber Orchestras
• Two Divisions for Large Ensembles: String Orchestra & Full Orchestra
• Plus an Eclectic Strings Division– fiddle, pit orchestra, folk, jazz, rock - any and all non-classical styles
• Two tracks – Competitive or Non-competitive
• High School Festival only: Separate classes within Competitive Divisions for Large (>1200) or Small (<1200) schools and Freshman-only Ensembles
• Open to W-ASTA and non-W-ASTA directors, as well as “non-public school” ensembles such as youth symphonies and ensembles from private studios
• Open to both Washington and non-Washington Schools
• All Divisions will receive assessments from two outstanding adjudicators as well as an onstage clinic
• All entries — Competitive or Non-Competitive — will receive a Trophy designated with a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award based on their performance

Divisions

• Division I - String Orchestra Division: String orchestras with personnel greater than sixteen
• Division II - Full Orchestra Division: Ensembles greater than sixteen that perform literature with winds/percussion
• Division III - Chamber Orchestra Division: Conducted or non-conducted: Nine to twenty-two string players (HS); Eight to twenty-two string players (MS); Multiple players per part
• Division IV - Eclectic Ensembles Division: Defined as any ensemble not performing classical music. Improvisation is encouraged!
• Division V - Chamber Ensembles Division: Three to nine players (may include piano and winds) performing chamber Music literature – one player per part. Schools must register in at least one other Division (I-IV) in addition to Division V

Each Division will have both Competitive and Non-Competitive tracks with the prerequisite of three entries, minimum, to constitute a Competitive Division. Private/select organizations (e.g. youth symphonies and select ensembles from multiple schools) are encouraged to participate, but may only enter the Non-Competitive track.

High School Festival only

Each Competitive Division will have both Large School (>1200) and Small School (<1200) Classes, with separate rankings for each Class; Freshman-only Ensembles will also receive separate rankings within all except the Chamber Ensembles Division.

Pricing

• First Large Group (Div I-IV) - $275
• Second Large Group (Div I-IV) - $200
• Each Additional Large Group (Div I-IV) - $175
• Division V Chamber Groups (High School Only) - $60 each.

Awards

All entries — Competitive or Non-Competitive — will receive a Trophy designated with a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award based on their performance.

2024 Festival Winners

Middle Schools - Friday, March 15, 2024

Division I: String Orchestra

• First Place - Odle Middle School Orchestra
• Second Place - Eckstein Concert Orchestra
• Third Place - Chinook Middle School Orchestra

Division II: Full Orchestra

• First Place - Odle Middle School Symphony
• Second Place - University Prep MS Orchestra 

High Schools - Saturday, March 16, 2024

Division I: Large School String Orchestras

• First Place - Redmond HS Chamber Orchestra
• Second Place - Inglemoor HS Philharmonic Orchestra
• Third Place - Hanford HS Chamber Orchestra

Division I: Small School String Orchestras

• First Place - VSAA Vitamente Sinfonietta
• Second Place - VSAA Chamber Orchestra
• Third Place - Port Angeles High School Symphonic Orchestra

Division I: Large School String Orchestras - Freshman Only

• First Place - Olympia HS String Orchestra
• Second Place - Bothell HS Concert Orchestra

Division II: Large School Full Orchestras

• First Place - Edmonds Woodway HS Full Orchestra
• Second Place - Kamiak HS Symphony Orchestra 1
• Third Place - UPrep Chamber Orchestra

Division III: Large School Chamber Orchestras

• First Place - Olympia HS Chamber Orchestra
• Second Place - Inglemoor HS Chamber Orchestra
• Third Place - Jackson HS Chamber Orchestra

Division III: Small School Chamber Orchestras

• First Place - Port Angeles HS Chamber Orchestra
• Second Place - University Prep Chamber Strings
• Third Place - Holy Names Academy Chamber Orch.

Division V: Chamber Ensembles

• First Place - Olympia HS Grieg Quartet
  Second Place - Central Kitsap HS Quartet
  Third Place - UPrep Dvorak Quartet

2025 Festival Information

The 2025 W-ASTA/WWU State Orchestra Festival will be held March 14-15, 2025. More information will be posted here later in spring, 2024, and a save-the-date will be sent via email to past participants. To be placed on the mailing list, please contact orchestra.festival@wwu.edu.