It is the purpose of the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductor's Association to encourage and support high performance standards by high school, middle school, and elementary school musical organizations. MICCA Concert Festivals encourage the improvement of a group's musical standards by providing musical adjudication by highly qualified adjudicators. Attendance at a festival also affords organizations an opportunity to hear performances by other groups and experience the presentation of a wide variety of musical literature. The 2005 MICCA Choral Festival was immensely successful with over eighty ensembles participating.

III. Required Music

Each chorus must program three selections within the allowed performance time of 20 minutes. Ensembles electing to perform for medal awards must perform one composition from the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) manual. Elementary School groups should consider literature at the grade 1-2 level, and Middle and High School groups should consider literature at the grade 3-6 level. NYSSMA catalogs should be available through your local music dealer or from colleagues. Additional pieces to be performed are left to the discretion of the director.

NYSSMA manuals can be paid for by check, school purchase order, or credit card. To order by credit card click here. Checks and school P.O.'s should be made out to "NYSSMA Manual" and sent to:
Kathryn A. Struzik
NYSSMA Manual Chairperson
535 Rondo Lane
Webster, NY 14580-1214
School P.O.'s can also be faxed to 585-670-9252

NYSSMA Manual Edition 27 is now available for purchase at the following prices:

Complete (Binder & Insert Pages) $45.00
Insert Pages Only $40.00
Binder Only $6.00

SHIPPING & HANDLING Ground Shipping within NY State: Included in above prices Out of State (within the Continental U.S.) Ground Shipping: Add $6.00 per item

OPTIONAL EXPRESS SHIPPING: NY State Express shipping: Add $6.00 per item Out of State (within the Continental U.S.) Express Shipping: Add $4.00 (total of $10.00 per item)

It is a requirement that all high school choirs perform one a cappella selection.

Three copies of each score with all measures numbered will be necessary for the adjudicators at the Festival performance. No photocopies please.

Photocopies will not be allowed unless written permission from the publisher is provided. Unauthorized use of photocopied scores will result in the performing group being disqualified and the chorus will recieve a festival participation medal.

IV. Adjudication

There will be 4 adjudicators at each site during the MICCA Choral Festival. Three adjudicators will provide taped comments during and after the performance of each ensemble. Additional written comments may be made on the Adjudication Form. The form will be used primarily for the adjudicators to evaluate each performance category and to arrive at a recommended summary rating. One of the four adjudicators present will clinic your ensemble in another room following your performance, possibly the most valuable aspect of the Choral Festival.

MICCA has selected highly respected choral directors and conductors from across the United States.

Click here to see the MICCA Scoring Rubric
Click here for an example of the MICCA Scoring Sheet.

V. Awards

Participating groups are evaluated on the merit of their overall performance. Groups given a superior rating will receive a Gold Medal; groups given an excellent rating will receive a Silver Medal; groups given a good rating will receive a Bronze Medal; groups given an average rating will receive a Medal of Merit; and groups which need improvement, or who participate for "Comments Only," will receive a Festival Participation Medal.

VI. "Stars at Symphony"

MICCA, in collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is again pleased to continue the tradition of Stars at Symphony. All gold medal groups from our concert and choral festivals will be invited to perform at Symphony Hall in Boston on either April 18th or 25th, 2009. This insures that every gold medal group will have a chance to perform at one of the two dates. The excitement of performing at these venues will be a lasting memory for all. We are indeed proud that we can offer this program to you.