WISCONSIN SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION INC WSMA
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
WSMA Music Festivals
Through WSMA Music Festivals WSMA tries to achieve these 5 goals:
A. Improve students’ music performance.
B. Increase students’ understanding of music literature and music concepts.
C. Motivate students to continue their study of music.
D. Establish standards of excellence in music performance.
E. Provide opportunities for students to understand the relationship of music experiences to other life experiences.
Solo & Ensemble Festivals: Students choose a musical selection from the WSMA Festival Music List to study and perform before an adjudicator. The adjudicator provides a written and verbal critique of the performance and awards a rating based on defined criteria. Students that receive a “first-star” rating at the Class A level advance on to State Solo & Ensemble.
Concert Group and Clinic Festivals: Bands, Choirs and Orchestras perform two to three selections – one of which is chosen from the WSMA Festival Music List - for a panel of adjudicators. The adjudicators provide written and verbal critique for the ensemble and award a rating based on defined criteria. Directors also have the option of performing for “comment only,” in which their group will receive written and verbal critiques, but no rating is given.
WSMA High School State Honors Music Project
The WSMA High School State Honors Music Project provides students with one of the best musical and personal experiences of their high school careers. Students selected for the WSMA State Honors Music Project participate in a 3-1/2 day summer camp in June and perform in Madison during late October as part of the Wisconsin State Music Conference. After an audition in the winter, the best students from across Wisconsin are chosen to be in either the band, orchestra, treble choir, mixed choir or jazz band. Over 1,600 students audition each year and 400 students are chosen to participate. Nationally known conductors are brought in in both June and October to work with the group. The WSMA State Honors Music Project is nationally recognized as one of the finest opportunities for young people. Regardless of a student's future college major, participation in the High School State Honors Music Project is a once in a lifetime experience for students in grades 9, 10 or 11.
State Marching Band Championships
Held in October, the Marching Band Championships offers one of the few truly competitive activities WSMA offers. Bands are able to enter in a number of different categories. This popular event concludes with an evening Awards Ceremony recognizing the top performing groups in each class, as well as Caption Awards.
Student Composition Project
Students in grades 5-12 submit original compositions in two divisions with several different categories. The compositions are critiqued by Wisconsin composers and the top winner in each division is awarded a scholarship to study with a professional composer.
Where we work
External reviews

Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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WISCONSIN SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION INC WSMA
Board of directorsas of 04/17/2020
Dr. Richard Parks
School District of Marathon
Term: 2018 - 2020
Rich Appel
Chilton Middle School
Jon Gilliland
Lynn Seidl
Peggy Ryan
St. Croix Falls High School
Heidi Eliopoulos
Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District
Steve Michaels
Westby Area School District
Brett Stousland
Barneveld School District
Dan Wolfgram
Little Wolf Junior/Senior High School
Jennifer Rauscher
Plymouth High School
Mark Hoernke
Poynette High School
Steve Plank
Burlington Area School District
Kati Seiter
Paul Budde
Andrew Maertz
Yorel Lashley
Gregg Butler