Solo & Ensemble Contest
(Updated for the 2025 Contest Season)
Our chamber music series is a third of our honors program. Preparing a solo or a chamber ensemble is one of the very best ways to better yourself as a musician, and to get more out of your time on your instrument, and your time in band. We encourage everyone to participate in Solo & Ensemble contest at least once in their high school careers, if not more. That said, if you are one of the better players in your class, you should definitely be working on extra music for S&E.
The Full Series of Events
Please read this entire page when signing up for Solo & Ensemble Contest.
Regional Contest Level
Sign Up!
Use the sign up widgets below to register your solo & ensemble entries.
The deadline for registration is 12PM, January 31st.
DO NOT MISS THIS DEADLINE!!!!!!
Cost is $20 per solo & $25 per ensemble (to BHS). Turn it in to Ms. Spray a week after registering.
BHS Preview Night!
We host a Preview Night at BHS each year. We hire a few adjudicators and have each student entry perform for feedback before the big day. This is a very informal evening, and is free and open to all students and the public.
Tuesday, February 11th at BHS.
Be sure to check out this page on competitions.
OMEA Regional Contest!
Our regional Solo & Ensemble contest is a GREAT event! Families are encouraged to attend.
Central Kitsap High School
Saturday, February 22nd, 2025
Check the competition page for advice.
Dress professionally. Show up at least an hour before your performance. Support your friends by watching their performances, too.
State Contest Level
BHS Honors Recital!
Some students will be fortunate enough to earn an invite to perform at the State contest in April. Those individuals and a few other outstanding upperclassmen will be invited to perform at our annual Honors Recital. Advice on competing at State is linked here.
Thursday, April 17th at BHS.
WMEA State Contest!
The WMEA State Solo & Ensemble Contest is a prestigious event held in Ellensburg the last weekend of April each year.
Small Ensembles are Friday morning.
Large Ensembles are Friday afternoon.
Solos are all day on Saturday.
Ten Grands @ Benaroya Hall!
Every once in a long while, we have a student that gets to perform at the Ten Grands concert at Benaroya Hall (where the Seattle Symphony performs). Applications are requested after State invites are made. More info here.
Ten Grands has not been held since before COVID-19. We're hoping they bring it back someday.
Important
From the WMEA rule book: "Participating students are required to be members of an appropriate large performing group accredited class (band/percussion, orchestra, choir or show/jazz/madrigal ensemble) at their high school. Each student must be an active member in the division of competition as his/her primary participation in the class at the time of both the regional and state events."
Sign Up Here!
Please note that you'll have to scroll down within the widget to complete your registration.
Do you need a pianist?
Solos are always more fun if you have accompanist. If you need to find one, click on the button above to see who is available this year.
Make sure you inquire about scheduling and their rates.
Accompanist is 4 syllabuls. "Ac-com-pan-ist" is correct. "Ac-com-pan-ee-ist" is incorrect.
Ask your accompanist what they prefer to be called. For examples, "Steve," "Mr Steve," "Steve Steve," or "Mr Steve Steve." Then practice saying that as part of your introduction.
It is the STUDENT'S responsibility to read and understand all the contest rules.
Here's all you need to know about our regional Solo & Ensemble Contest.