March 20 - 30, 2025
Cosmopolitan Music Hall
Adjudication and Grading
Guiding Growth Through Feedback
Welcome to the Adjudication page! For many families new to the world of music festivals, this may be your first experience with adjudication. At Festival 2025, we’ve crafted an approach to help students receive valuable, constructive feedback on their performances. Adjudication isn’t about competing against others; it’s about celebrating each student’s unique musical journey and providing guidance to help them grow.
What is Adjudication?
In a music festival context, adjudication is a process where performances are assessed by experienced musicians and educators. Instead of focusing on competition, our adjudicators evaluate how well each student performs their chosen pieces. This approach encourages individual progress and artistry, making every performance a valuable learning experience.
How Adjudication Works
Each performance at Festival 2025 is carefully evaluated across several key areas. Using a structured rubric, adjudicators assess students on:
01
Pitch Accuracy:
How accurately the student plays or sings the correct notes.
02
Rhythm Accuracy:
How precisely they keep rhythm and timing.
03
Interpretation:
How well they express the style, mood, and character of the piece.
04
Performance Skills:
How confidently and comfortably the student presents themselves, from posture to audience interaction.
Each category is scored out of 25 points, allowing for a total score out of 100. A copy of this rubric is available in our appendix for those who would like to see the exact breakdown.
Feedback and Scoring
"2 Stars and a Wish"
Feedback and Scoring: "2 Stars and a Wish"
To provide a supportive, growth-oriented experience, our adjudicators use the “2 Stars and a Wish” feedback format:
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2 Stars: Two strengths or highlights of the performance.
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1 Wish: One area where the student can focus on improving for future performances.
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This feedback, both written and verbal, is shared with students immediately following their performance. At the end of each session, participants receive their scores along with a certificate to mark their achievement.
Grading and Awards
After all performances in a session are completed, scores are reviewed, and certificates are awarded to every participant. Additionally, the top three scores will earn 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place distinctions, noted on their certificates. This ensures all participants leave with constructive insights, fostering growth regardless of rank.
Meet our Adjudicators
Our adjudicators are accomplished musicians and specialists, each bringing expertise and a passion for music education to the festival. Importantly, none of them are instructors at Cosmo School of Music or Chorus Music, ensuring complete impartiality. This selection process guarantees that all evaluations are fair, focused solely on each student’s performance.
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