Round Rock High School

Dragon Band

Young Artist Competition

  • Winds

    Woodwind and Brass students may compete as a soloist with a piano accompanist, or in a small ensemble. This is the time to build your skills as a player and shine as a performer.

  • Percussion

    All percussionists may compete as a soloist or in a small ensemble of up to five players. This is an incredible way to refine basic skills, enhanced specialized techniques and develop musicianship.

  • Color Guard

    Color Guard students may perform as a soloist in this competition. Guard members can enter up to twice in the solo dance, flag or combo categories. Let’s see your very best!

Sign Up

Performance Categories

  • Flute or Piccolo Solo

  • Double Reed Solo

  • Clarinet or Bass Clarinet Solo

  • Saxophone Solo

  • Trumpet Solo

  • French Horn Solo

  • Trombone or Bass Trombone Solo

  • Tuba or Euphonium Solo

  • Percussion Solo

  • Color Guard Solo

    Dance, Flag or Combo

  • Woodwind Trio or Quartet

    Any like instrument woodwind trio or quartet

  • Brass Trio or Quartet

    Any like instrument brass trio or quartet

  • Woodwind or Brass Quintet

    Any woodwind quintet consisting of a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn

    Any brass quintet consisting of two trumpet, a French horn, trombone and tuba

  • Percussion Ensemble

    Any percussion ensemble up to five members

Competition Rules

Terms to Know

  • Prelims-the first round of competition

  • Semifinals-the second round of competition

  • Finals-the third and final round of competition

  • Entrant-the student(s) performing

  • Performance Category-the category in which Entrant is competing

  • Contest Rooms-the room in which the performances will be held and judged

  • Scoring Rubric-a listing of items judges will be listening and looking for from the performance

  • Division Rating-a Roman Numeral assigned to a score range from the Scoring Rubric, from Fifth Division (lowest) to First Division (highest)

  • Judge-a music professional hired to evaluate and assign a score to the Entrant using the Scoring Rubric

Overall Format

  • This is a Prelims, Semifinals and Finals format competition. All students who sign up will compete in prelims. Scores will be earned by adhering to the scoring rubric as closely as possible.

  • Entrants advance from one level to the next by earning the highest score in their Contest Room,

  • Prelims, Semifinals and Finals will be held on separate dates, 1-3 weeks apart, depending on availability of facilities, judges and accompanists.

  • An Entry Fee of $25 for solo Performance Categories and $10 per ensemble member for ensemble Performance Categories must be paid to the Round Rock High School Band Boosters for an Entry to be considered complete.

  • This is not a fundraiser. Entry Fees go to pay the judges for all three rounds of competition and make up the awards purse for the Finals.

  • Contest Rooms in Prelims will be arranged by Performance Category, with no Contest Room having more than a single Performance Category unless the number of Entrants is between 1-5, then the Contest Room may be comprised of multiple Performance Categories.

  • Contest Rooms in Semifinals will host a single Performance Category and then transition to a different Performance Category where skills substantially overlap between Performance Categories.

  • For Performance Categories where skills do not substantially overlap, separate Contest Rooms will be required. (Example: Brass Trios and Percussion Ensembles, OR Color Guard Solos and Woodwind or Brass Quintets)

  • 1 Judge will be assigned to each Contest Room for Prelims and Semifinals. For Finals, 3 judges will be assigned to the Woodwind, Brass and Percussion solo Contest Room, 3 judges will be assigned to the Woodwind, Brass and Percussion ensemble Contest Room and 3 judges will be assigned to the Color Guard solo Contest Room.

Prelims Contest Rooms and Advancement to Semifinals

  • 1-5 Prelims Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 2 Entrants advance to Semis

  • 6-10 Prelims Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 3 Entrants advance to Semis

  • 11-15 Prelims Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 4 Entrants advance to Semis

  • 16-20 Prelims Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 5 Entrants advance to Semis

  • 21-25 Prelims Entrants = 2 Contest Rooms with matching Performance Categories, 1 Judge per Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance to Semis from each room

  • 26-30 Prelims Entrants = 2 Contest Rooms with matching Performance Categories, 1 Judge per Contest Room, 4 Entrants advance to Semis from each room

  • 31-35 Prelims Entrants = 3 Contest Rooms with matching Performance Categories, 1 Judge per Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance to Semis from each room

  • 36-40 Prelims Entrants = 3 Contest Rooms with matching Performance Categories, 1 Judge per Contest Room, 4 Entrants advance to Semis from each room

Semifinals Contest Rooms and Advancement to Finals

  • 1-5 advancing Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 1 Entrant advances to Finals

  • 6-10 advancing Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 2 Entrants advance to Finals

  • 11-15 advancing Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Judge, 3 Entrants advance to Finals

Awards

  • Prelims: Entrants earning a First Division Rating will receive an Outstanding Performer Patch. Entrants with the highest scores in the Contest Room advance to Semifinals using the ratios explained above.

  • Semifinals: Entrants advancing to Semifinals earn a Semifinalist Pin.

  • Finals: The highest scoring Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and Color Guard soloists each receive $500. The 2nd highest scoring Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and Color Guard soloists each receive $400. The 3rd highest scoring Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and Color Guard soloists each receive $300. All other finalist soloists receive $50. The highest scoring ensemble overall, either Woodwind, Brass or Percussion receives $75 per member. The 2nd highest scoring ensemble overall, either Woodwind, Brass or Percussion receives $50 per member. The 3rd highest scoring ensemble overall, either Woodwind Brass or Percussion receives $25 per member. All other finalist ensembles receive $10 per member.

Entry Steps

  • Select a Solo or Ensemble to perform - you may select from our music library or purchase your own. It is strongly advised that all students work with their private lesson teacher to select a solo or ensemble.

  • Color Guard students will perform a solo of not less than 1 minute 30 seconds nor more than 2 minutes set to music of their choice. Choreography should be a mix of lyrical and technical skill. Movement should remain within a roughly 15 square foot zone. Special attention must be paid to tempo, pacing, costuming and the display of skills that closely match the performer’s level of development.

  • Complete the online entry form, including uploading your music - instrumentalists upload the full score, color guard uploads a recording of the music to which they’re performing

  • Pay the $25 Entry Fee

  • Solos must be performed with an accompanist with the exception of percussionists and color guard members. Accompanists may be arranged through private lesson teachers or through the band director office. Pay your accompanist. A typical fee is $50 for two short (15-20 minute) rehearsals and the event. Should you advance to semifinals, an additional $30 fee would be appropriate to cover 1 additional rehearsal and 1 additional performance. Should you advance to finals, you and your accompanist will work out any extra fee required.

  • Musical solos do not need to be memorized

Sample Contest Scenario

This is an approximation of how the contest would run based on the rules above and an estimated number of entrants for any given Performance Category. Some Performance Categories will have more Entrants, some will have less.

PRELIMS

  • 12 Flute Entries = 1 Contest Room, 4 Entrants advance

  • 14 Clarinet Entries = 1 Contest Room, 4 Entrants advance

  • 23 Saxophone Entries = 2 Contest Rooms, 6 Entrants advance

  • 6 Double Reed Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 18 Trumpet Entries = 1 Contest Room, 5 Entrants advance

  • 7 Horn Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 14 Trombone Entries = 1 Contest Room, 4 Entrants advance

  • 9 Tuba and Euphonium Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 8 Percussion Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 24 Color Guard Entries = 2 Contest Rooms, 6 Entrants advance

  • 10 Woodwind Trio or Quartet Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 11 Brass Trio or Quartet Entries = 1 Contest Room, 3 Entrants advance

  • 3 Woodwind or Brass Quintet Entries = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 5 Percussion Ensemble Entries = 1 Contest Room, 2 Entrants advance

  • 164 Prelims Entrants = 16 Contest Rooms, 16 Judges, 50 Entrants advance to Semifinals

SEMIFINALS

  • 4 Flute Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances; Flute Contest Room transitions to Clarinet

  • 4 Clarinet Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 6 Saxophone Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 2 Entrants advance; Saxophone Contest Room transitions to Double Reed

  • 3 Double Reed Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 5 Trumpet Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances, Trumpet Contest Room transitions to Horn

  • 3 Horn Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 4 Trombone Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances, Trombone Contest Room transition to Tuba and Euphonium

  • 3 Tuba and Euphonium Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 3 Percussion Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 6 Color Guard Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 2 Entrants advance

  • 3 Woodwind Trio or Quartet Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances, Woodwind Trio or Quartet Contest Room transitions to Brass Trio or Quartet AND THEN to Woodwind or Brass Quintet

  • 3 Brass Trio or Quartet Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 1 Woodwind or Brass Quintets = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 2 Percussion Ensemble Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 1 Entrant advances

  • 50 Semifinals Entrants = 8 Contest Rooms, 16 Entrants advance to Finals

FINALS

  • 5 Woodwind Solo Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges-combined with Brass and Percussion Solos

  • 4 Brass Solo Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges-combined with Woodwind and Percussion Solos

  • 1 Percussion Solo Entrant = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges-combined with Woodwind and Brass Solos

  • 2 Color Guard Solo Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges specific to the Color Guard Solo Performance Category

  • 3 Woodwind or Brass Ensemble Entrants = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges-combined with Percussion Ensemble(s)

  • 1 Percussion Ensemble Entrant = 1 Contest Room, 3 Judges-combined with Woodwind and Brass Ensembles

  • 16 Finals Entrants = 3 Contest Rooms (1 for Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Soloists, 1 for Color Guard Soloists and 1 for Ensembles)

AWARDS

  • 1st place Woodwind (out of 5 Entrants) receives $500

  • 2nd place Woodwind (out of 5 Entrants) receives $400

  • 3rd place Woodwind (out of 5 Entrants) receives $300

  • 4th place Woodwind (out of 5 Entrants) receives $50

  • 5th place Woodwind (out of 5 Entrants) receives $50

  • 1st place Brass (out of 4 Entrants) receives $500

  • 2nd place Brass (out of 4 Entrants) receives $400

  • 3rd place Brass (out of 4 Entrants) receives $300

  • 4th place Brass (out of 4 Entrants) receives $50

  • 1st place Percussion (out of 1 Entrant) receives $500

  • 1st place Woodwind, Brass or Percussion Ensemble (out of 4 Entrants) receives $75 per member

  • 2nd place Woodwind, Brass or Percussion Ensemble (out of 4 Entrants) receives $50 per member

  • 3rd place Woodwind, Brass or Percussion Ensemble (out of 4 Entrants) receives $25 per member

  • 4th place Woodwind, Brass or Percussion Ensemble (out of 4 Entrants) receives $10 per member

  • 1st place Color Guard (out of 2 Entrants) receives $500

  • 2nd place Color Guard (out of 2 Entrants) receives $400

Scoring Rubric

  • MUSIC

    Score Range: 90-100

    This performance challenges the listener’s concept of the ideal. Professional in all aspects, the performer and the presentation may be compared to the finest musicians on the instrument. There are no distractions and the technical execution of the piece is perceived as flawless. Articulation and tone quality are clear and never a distraction. This performance is among the best at the high school or college level, worthy of selection to the All State Band or Orchestra.

    Score Range: 80-90

    All of the technical demands of the piece are executed fluently. Minor inconsistencies in articulation, phrase direction and tone quality in extreme ranges and dynamic levels may be present but are rare. Moments of true artistic expression are frequent as all elements of a well-prepared performance are in place. The performance would be worthy of Outstanding Soloist recognition at Solo and Ensemble and may qualify for Area level contest.

    VISUAL

    Score Range: 80-100

    Performers display an extremely high level of understanding of style, poise, method and roles. Recovery is accomplished with ease and speed. A high level of understanding enhances the program and communication with the audience is evident and strong throughout the performance.

  • MUSIC

    Score Range: 60-80

    Notes, rhythms, articulations, dynamics and phrasing are correct and performed confidently. Slight errors (if they occur) are handled without stopping. Tempos are appropriate for the etude and for the skill and musicianship of the performer. Breathing is natural and rarely causes distraction. The performance would generally receive a Division I rating by UIL standards and may qualify the student for membership in the Region band.

    VISUAL

    Score Range: 60-80

    Performers display a generally high level of achievement. Style is not totally refined, although evident. Variations in technical control/articulations are usually consistent and variations in techniques are infrequent and minor. Recovery is evident and quick. The understanding of roles is obvious and enhances the display of style. A strong level of communication with the audience is generally achieved throughout the performance.

  • MUSIC

    Score Range: 40-60

    Comprehension is demonstrated, as note and rhythmic errors are almost nonexistent. Stops (if any) are minor and quickly recovered from. Rhythms are performed correctly but may be uneven or have a tendency to change tempo. Dynamic contrast is present and convincing. Correct articulation is present although it may be inconsistent. Tone quality is characteristic throughout most of the excerpt but may suffer in more technical passages. Phrasing has been addressed and carefully worked out, but may not be fully refined. The performer occasionally displays expressive qualities which elevate the piece beyond mere notes.

    VISUAL

    Score Range: 40-60

    Performers display a moderate level of achievement. Style is recognizable but not well developed. Variations in technical control/articulations are usually consistent and variations in techniques are infrequent and minor. Recovery is evident and quick. The understanding of roles is obvious and enhances the display of style, although breaks do occur. A moderate level of communication is achieved at times throughout the performance.

  • MUSIC

    Score Range: 20-40

    An awareness of key is present, though frequent errors may occur in notes and rhythms. Tone quality is developing properly though inconsistencies may exist outside the comfortable register of the instrument. Tempos are constant, but may be significantly below those required. There is some dynamic contrast. Frequent or occasional stops prevent any meaningful musical communication.

    VISUAL

    Score Range: 20-40

    Performers occasionally display an achievement of the basic level of understating in the skills required to demonstrate style, poise and technical control. Occasionally the attempts to play roles only rarely elevate the mechanics. Recovery is sporadic. A low level of audience communication is evident and achieved sporadically throughout the performance.

  • MUSIC

    Score Range: 10-20

    There is a superficial level of preparation and the presence of some fundamental technical skill. Wrong notes and rhythms are a constant distraction, and little or no attention to articulation and dynamics is evident. Characteristic sound may or may not be present.

    Score Range: 0-10

    An attempt was made to play the etude. Tone quality may be poor and many of the notes are wrong due to a severe lack of preparation and/or poor fundamental skill. The student may not have finished the piece.

    VISUAL

    Score Range: 0-20

    Performers display a lack of understanding of body carriage, style and method, poise, control and roles. Members seem generally unaware of even the most basic responsibilities. Audience communication at any level is not possible.