Subchapter B: MUSIC (1108)

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Section 1108: SOLO AND SMALL ENSEMBLE CONTEST

(a) APPROVED SOLO AND ENSEMBLE EVENTS.

Approved solo and ensemble events (event code number in parentheses) are listed in the table of contents of the Prescribed Music List (on the UIL website)

(b) TWIRLING EVENTS.

Twirling events (event code number in parentheses) are as follows:

(1) Twirling Solo (700)
(2) Twirling Ensemble (773). Twirling ensembles may consist of a minimum three members and a maximum of ten members.

(c) ELIGIBILITY.

(1) Eligibility. All participants in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest must meet the eligibility requirements as listed under Section 1102 and be certified to represent his or her school in UIL competition by the school’s principal (or designee).

(2) Grade Limits. Solos and small ensembles in region contests shall be open to students in grades 9, 10, 11, 12.

(3) Seventh and Eighth Grade Students. In composite organizations 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, A, 3B, 2B and B), a seventh or eighth grade student may perform in small ensemble events provided that the majority of the ensemble members are in grades 9-12.

(4) Maximum Number of Members. No small ensemble may have more than 10 members with the following exceptions.

(A) Madrigals may have a maximum of 16 members.

(B) Ensembles shall conform to the parts and voicings specified in the printed score.

(5) Perform For Ratings. All solos and small ensembles shall perform for ratings.

(d) LIMITATION.

(1) Maximum Number of Solo and Ensemble Events. No student may exceed the maximum number of solo and ensemble entries listed below.

(2) Maximum Instrumental Events. Each student may enter a maximum of two instrumental events which may be either:

(A) Two solos provided they are performed on different instruments and different music is performed, or two percussion solos, provided they are performed on two different instruments, or

(B) Two small ensembles, provided they are different event codes or different instrumentation under the same event code and different music is performed, or

(C) A small ensemble and a solo.

(D) Percussion members may participate in two percussion ensembles, provided instrumentation is different and different music is performed.

(E) Saxophone players may participate in two saxophone quartets, provided different music is performed.

(F) A wind or percussion player may also enter a string solo and/or a string small ensemble (or vice versa) in addition to the events listed above.

(3) Vocal Events. In addition to the instrumental events listed above, each student may enter two vocal events which may consist of:

(A) A vocal solo and a vocal small ensemble, or

(B) Two vocal small ensembles provided they are different voicings, different music is performed and the majority of ensemble members are different.

(4) Twirling and Piano Events. In addition to the instrumental and vocal entries listed above, each student may enter a piano 
solo and a maximum of two twirling events that may be:

(A) A twirling solo and a twirling ensemble, or

(B) Two twirling ensembles provided they are different events (for example, a quartet and a quintet; or a quartet and a sextet) and the majority of the members are different.

(5) Medium Ensemble Events. In addition, students may enter medium ensemble events as stated in Section 1109.

(e) CLASSIFICATION.

Solo-small ensemble competition shall have three classifications: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3.

(1) Class 1. (most difficult). May be entered by any student. 

(2) Class 2. (medium difficult). May be entered by any student who has not previously earned a Division I rating in Class 1 competition. 

(3) Class 3. (least difficult). May be entered by any student who has not previously earned a Division I rating in Class 1 or 2 competition. 

(4) Twirling. Twirling solo-small ensemble competition is limited to Class 1 and Class 3 competition only.

(f) ENTRY PROCEDURES.

See Section 1103.

(g) ADDITIONAL ENTRIES AFTER DEADLINE.

Entries inadvertently omitted may be submitted after the deadline under the following provisions:

(1) An initial entry shall be on file by the deadline.

(2) Pending approval by the Region Executive Secretary additional entries may be submitted up until a date to be determined by the Region Executive Committee.

(3) The Region Executive Committee may refuse entry if it disrupts the contest schedule.

(4) A late fee as determined by the Region Executive Committee shall be assessed.

(h) PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS.

(1) Required Selections. The required selections to be performed by all classes of soloists and ensembles will be published in the Prescribed Music List (on the UIL website). Soloists or ensembles that do not perform selections appearing on the prescribed lists will be disqualified. If only one movement of a multi-movement selection is performed, that movement shall be designated on the entry form.

(2) Changes to Music Selection. Music selections listed on the entry form become program requirements for the solo and/or ensemble performance unless the contest chair is officially notified of selection changes no later than seven days prior to the first day of the contest.

(3) Emergency Substitution. In emergency situations, the director may substitute another eligible student for an ensemble member after the entry has been submitted, provided the substitute has not already entered the maximum number of events listed above. All substitutions shall be certified by the contest chair prior to the performance.

(4) Scores. The judge shall be provided with a copyright compliant score with measures numbered. Judges are prohibited from adjudicating a performance if a copyright compliant score is not provided. Exception: A judge may adjudicate an ensemble without a copyright compliant score under both of the following provisions:

(A) A statement from a music retailer or music publisher that no published score exists or is out of print is provided to the judge.

(B) A set of copyright compliant parts is supplied in lieu of the score.

(5) Memorization. Ensembles are not required to be performed from memory. A judge may not adjudicate a solo unless the performer conforms to the following memory requirements:

(A) Vocal Solos. All vocal solos shall be performed from memory.

(B) Instrumental Solos. All instrumental solos, regardless of class, may be performed with music. Exception:  Students wishing to be certified to TSSEC must perform a Class 1 solo from memory at the region contest or perform a Class 1 solo specified as being exempt from the memory requirement as listed in the Prescribed Music List (on the UIL website).

(6) Repetition.

(A) A soloist may not repeat a selection (or movement) performed by him or her in a previous UIL contest.

(B) An ensemble may not perform a selection that has been played as a UIL contest selection by a similar ensemble from the same school in the previous year, unless at least half the members of the group did not participate in the ensemble the previous year.

(7) Accompaniment. All solos and ensembles must be accompanied by piano, recorded accompaniment, electronic accompaniment, or other musically appropriate instrument(s). Exception: Solos and ensembles designated as such in the score may be unaccompanied.

(8) Instrumental Cadenza Required. Instrumental soloists are expected to perform a cadenza if it is called for in the score. A copy of the cadenza to be performed must be presented to the judge.

(9) Conducted Ensembles. Small ensembles may not be conducted. Exception: Madrigals, instrumental ensembles of 11 or more, and all percussion ensembles may be conducted.