UW-Green Bay to Host Top Student Musicians for State Festival Event
Thousands of middle and high school students will head to UW-Green Bay on Saturday, May 5 for their opportunity to perform in a Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Music Festival — one of the largest student events of its kind in the nation.
More than 32,000 student musicians will take part in WSMA State Music Festivals held on 10 university campuses throughout the state. The UW-Green Bay WSMA State Festival will run from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 5 on the campus, 2420 Nicolet Drive. The event is free and open to the public.
“The WSMA State Music Festival cultivates a nurturing experience for participating students, as well as their families and teachers,” said UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Kevin Collins, festival manager for UW-Green Bay. “It is also an opportunity for the UW-Green Bay campus and Music Department to showcase their facilities and encourage interaction between area middle and high school students and their families.”
In order to participate in the WSMA State Music Festivals, students must first earn a “starred first” rating in Class A (the most difficult music) at a WSMA District Music Festival, hosted by schools for students in grades 6-12. Students can select from a variety of instrumental and vocal solo and ensemble categories for their performances. More than 225 district festivals have been held in Wisconsin during the past six months, involving more participants than any other student activity in the state.
“Wisconsin music students continue to grow in their level of dedication and achievement,” said WSMA Program Director Jeff Gretzinger. “The WSMA State Music Festival provides a quality opportunity for music students to share the talents and skills developed in the classroom while creating a lifetime memory through their state performance.”
Wisconsin universities that hosted WSMA State Music Festivals Saturday, April 28 include UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh. St. Norbert College (De Pere) is scheduled to host the WSMA State Music Jazz Festival on Friday May 4. In addition to UW-Green Bay, festivals will be held May 5 at Cardinal-Stritch University (Milwaukee), UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Parkside and UW-Stevens Point.
Learn more about WSMA State Music Festivals and other programs by visiting www.wsmamusic.org. WSMA State Music Festival information will be posted as available. Schedules and results will be searchable by school, student and event number.
Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 950 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 220,000 students take the initiative to become involved in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, State Honors Projects, State Marching Band Championships and Concert Festivals. WSMA, also owner and operator of the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.
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