What is WESTERN Regionals and All State? 

Western Regional High School Music Festival is an event run by the Connecticut Music Educator's Association (CMEA).  CMEA is our local chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).  It is to music teachers what the AMA is to doctors.  

The event involves an audition process to participate with the other best musicians in the Western Region of Connecticut in a 2 day intensive festival.  Accepted students are given repertoire which they must prepare on their own and with their private teachers, and then renowned guest conductors are brought in to rehearse them for two full days.  A concert is the capstone experience for the participants.  

Participation in this festival is akin to what it would be like to be a professional musician.  The pros show up to the gig prepared, ready to contribute to the ensemble.  It is expected that the music is learned completely ahead of time in order for the concert to be a success with such a small amount of rehearsal time.  As music educators, it is always exciting to see our students shine in this environment with like minded peers who also take their studies seriously.  

For more information about CMEA and its events, please visit their website.

Eligibility Requirements

It is CMEA policy that participating students be "in good standing with their school music program."  At RHS, that is defined as presently enrolled in a performance course in their school music program unless they play an instrument that does not allow them to be in an ensemble (such as harp, piano, guitar).  

Western Regional

Here are some important dates and information regarding the festival.  Please read the following very carefully and make note of the amounts/remittance information and timelines.  Regional Auditions take place at West Hill High School in Stamford.

  1. The Registration Form is due on October 11, 2024. Audition Fee: $22 (also due by Oct 11); Make checks payable to RHS.

  2. Audition date: 11/16/24

  3. If you pass the audition: Confirm Region Festival Participation with your teacher.  Medical forms, student contracts, and festival checks for $40 due TBA.  When it’s available, you’ll be able to CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO FORMS. Festival checks are to be made payable to RHS, who pays your fee on your behalf per request of CMEA.  

  4. Festival Date:  1/17/24 - 1/18/24 at Wilton HS;  SNOW DATE 1/24/24 - 1/25/24

Registration Form: Here

Audition Solo Requirements - https://cmea.org/hs-audition-repertoire/

Please note that we require the forms earlier than the CMEA due dates for our school to allot for processing.  If you miss our deadline, you may miss out on participation.

Western Regional Results

WE WILL POST RESULTS HERE WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE

Read Below If You Passed the Audition

required forms

This year, the student contract and health forms will be online. A link will be provided when we receive it. The music will also be sent to us in mid/late December.

Festival checks are to be made payable to RHS, who pays your fee on your behalf per request of CMEA.  If you are planning to audition for All State, the check amount is $65. If you are not planning to audition for All State, the check amount is $40.

ALL STATE AUDITIONS

If you participate in the Western Regional Festival, you will be eligible to audition for All State. You cannot audition for All State if you are declining your Western Regional Festival participation.

Audition Date:  2/1/2025 (snow date 2/2/2025)

Audition fee:  $25

Festival Date: 3/27/25 - 3/29/25 at Wethersfield High School. This year’s festival is a commuter only festival as CMEA is hosting All Eastern. Students will need to be driven to the festival each day.

Festival Fee: TBA

If you are planning to audition for All State

You will let us know you are auditioning for All State by delivering a check made out to RHS in the amount of $65, which will include your $40 regional participation fee and your $25 All State audition fee.

If you are not auditioning for All State but participating in the regional festival

You will let us know you are not auditioning for All State by bringing in a check for $40 made out to RHS for the regional festival fee.

If you were accepted but are not going to participate in the western region festival

Please let your director know via e-mail by the deadline below. If you drop out of the festival after this date, you will not be eligible to audition for CMEA festivals for one calendar year per CMEA rules.

Note that the deadline to submit the check and forms is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 27.

We will not be chasing kids for forms and checks. If you are late, we are declining your spot so the school doesn't get billed, and CMEA will have already offered your spot to next in line. Please don’t put us in this position and get your forms in on time!

Thank you, and congratulations again!