Western District Music Festival
What is it?
The Western District Music Festival is a two-day festival that brings together advanced student musicians from across Western Massachusetts to perform in four auditioned large ensembles (Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra) directed by different guest conductors each year.
The Junior Festival is open to students in grades 6–9.
The Senior Festival is open to students in grades 9–12.
See below for further eligibility requirements.
When is it?
2025–2026 Senior Festival
Auditions:
Saturday, November 8 (snow date: 11/15)
8:00am–4:00pm
Time slots assigned after registration closes
Festival Day 1:
Saturday, January 10 (snow date: 1/11)
Rehearsal: 9:00am–3:00pm
Festival Day 2:
Saturday, January 17 (snow date: 1/18)
Rehearsal: 9:00am–3:00pm
Concert: 3:00pm
2025–2026 Junior Festival
Auditions:
Saturday, December 6 (snow date: 12/13)
8:00am–4:00pm
Time slots assigned after registration closes
Festival Day 1:
Saturday, February 28 (snow date: 3/1)
Rehearsal: 9:00am–3:00pm
Festival Day 2:
Saturday, March 7 (snow date: 3/8)
Rehearsal: 9:00am–3:00pm
Concert: 3:00pm
Where is it?
Auditions:
Catherine Dower Center for the Performing and Fine Arts, Westfield State University
Festival rehearsals and concert:
Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA
FESTIVAL POLICIES
ELIGIBILITY
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Students enrolled in a public or private school with a music program may audition for an MMEA festival only if:
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they are active members of their school music program,
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their school ensemble director holds an active NAfME membership, and
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their director endorses their participation.
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The decision to endorse a student rests solely with the school ensemble director, who maintains full authority and discretion in determining eligibility for festival participation. This includes consideration of musical preparedness, commitment, behavior, and overall representation of the school music program.
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Students enrolled in a school that does not have a music program may be registered by a private teacher, who must hold an active NAfME membership.
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Homeschooled students who do not perform in a school ensemble may be registered by their parent/guardian, who must hold an active NAfME membership.
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Students may audition only if they can attend both rehearsals in full as well as the concert (see "Conflicts & Attendance").
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The Junior Festival is open to students in grades 6–9, and the Senior Festival is open to students in grades 9–12. Students in grade 9 who are accepted to the Senior Festival are not eligible to audition for the Junior Festival, unless a special exception is approved by the Executive Board.
MULTIPLE AUDITIONS
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Students may audition on more than one instrument or for more than one ensemble.
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Each audition requires a separate registration in Avenir and incurs its own audition fee. Example: A student auditioning on voice, violin, and jazz piano must be registered in Avenir three times, and the audition fee will be charged three times.
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Students should indicate their instrument/ensemble preference on the Student Endorsement Form. Preferences will be considered, but ensemble placement is determined by the ensemble managers.
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Double voice auditions are not permitted (e.g., auditioning as both soprano and alto).
REGISTRATION & FEES
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An active NAfME membership is required to register students for MMEA auditions and festivals.
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Although each school has only one Avenir account, each director is responsible for endorsing and registering their own students and must hold an individual NAfME membership. Directors may not act on each other's behalf. For example, a band director may not endorse/register vocal or string students on behalf of the chorus or orchestra director (and vice versa), unless the school does not have a designated chorus or orchestra director.
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The audition fee is $15 per audition for on-time registrations. After the regular registration deadline, a one-week late registration period is available, during which the audition fee is $30 per audition. The late registration deadline is also the deadline to unregister students. After this date, registered students who decide not to audition are considered "no-shows" and will not be refunded. The Principal Form, Student Endorsement Forms, and payment are due at auditions. Individual student checks are not accepted. Please provide one school check or purchase order. Cash is also accepted.
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Walk-in auditions will be accepted until 9:00am, and a $30 registration fee will be due immediately upon registering. Students may not register for a walk-in audition without their director's endorsement.
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Directors must register their accepted students for the festival within one week after auditions. The festival fee is $30 per student for on-time registrations or $50 per student for late registrations. The Principal Form and payment are due at the first festival rehearsal. Individual student checks are not accepted. Please provide one school check or purchase order. Cash is also accepted. Registered students who do not attend will not be refunded.
CONFLICTS & ATTENDANCE
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Audition times are assigned after the audition registration period closes. Teachers may request specific audition times for students with scheduling constraints on the audition day. Time requests must be submitted by the registration deadline.
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Teachers may request a video audition for students with unavoidable conflicts on the audition day. Video audition requests must be submitted by the registration deadline and require approval from the Executive Board.
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Students accepted to the festival are expected to participate and must attend both rehearsals in full as well as the concert. Conflicts cannot be accommodated. Appropriate documentation is required (e.g., doctor's note) in the event of illness, injury, or other unexpected emergencies. Accepted students who do not fulfill this obligation will be disqualified from participating in all MMEA festivals for the remainder of the academic year and the following academic year.
SUPERVISION & TRANSPORTATION
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Directors are expected to attend MMEA events to supervise their students for the duration of each event. If a director cannot attend, they must appoint a supervisor by submitting a Designated Supervisor Form. This form is required even if the designated supervisor is the parent/guardian of a single participating student.
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Students are not permitted to drive themselves to MMEA events.
Specific audition requirements for each instrument can be found here:
Senior Festival Audition Requirements • Junior Festival Audition Requirements
Forms, deadlines, and registration instructions can be found here: