Del Valle Festivals
Conquer The Rhythm
The 15th annual Del Valle High School Percussion Ensemble Festival — May 9, 2026.
Festival date
May 9, 2026
Deadline to enter
April 21
Fees — $16 per student for solo events, $12 per student for ensemble events. A student performing one solo and one ensemble pays $28; two ensembles, $24. A seven-player ensemble pays $84.
Click here to enterWelcome
DVHS Percussion Ensemble Festival
The festival is a one day event. Solos and ensembles compete on Saturday the 9th in the Del Valle High School Theater, band room and orchestra room.
High School Individual Competition / Ratings
Includes Snare / Tenor / Multi-Percussion / Keyboard and Timpani categories.
Large or Small High School Competitive Percussion Ensemble
Includes Bass Drum, Tenor and Cymbal Ensembles. 2–5 players for small ensembles, 6+ required for large ensembles.
Middle School Competitive Percussion Ensemble
Includes concert percussion ensembles only — 2+ players.
Open Individual Competition / Ratings
Includes Snare / Tenor / Multi-Percussion / Keyboard and Timpani categories.
Open Competitive Percussion Ensemble
Includes concert percussion ensembles only — 2+ players.
For time purposes, there is a maximum of 50 solo slots and 15 ensemble slots. Entries are first come, first served. Any changes to these slot numbers are at the discretion of the festival director.
Ensembles
Ensemble Guidelines
Trophies will be handed out to the top three placing ensembles in the Open, High School and Middle School categories.
Categories: Percussion (small ensemble or large ensemble), Bass Drum (high school only), Tenors, and Cymbal Ensembles (high school only). Bass drum ensembles may use bass drums only; cymbal ensembles may use cymbals only. Both categories must be 3–6 players.
Concert Percussion Ensemble: small ensembles 2–5 players, large ensembles 6+ players. Instrumentation is limited to instruments typically recognized as part of the percussion family, including all world percussion. Electronic instruments recognized as normal stage and band rhythm section instruments are also allowed. Conventional wind and/or string instruments (other than string bass and guitar) may not be used. Single tone, non-keyed horns (whistles, sirens, animal calls, etc.) may be used only if generating an effect and may not be used in any melodic form.
Performance: bass drum, tenor and cymbal ensembles may NOT be accompanied. Penalties: any severe divergence from the time guidelines is subject to penalty by the contest director.
Time limits of performance
- High School Percussion Ensemble
- 3:00 – 10 minutes
- Middle School Percussion Ensemble
- 1:30 – 6 minutes
- Bass Drum Ensemble
- 2 – 4 minutes
- Cymbal Ensemble
- 2 – 4 minutes
Ensemble Rubric
Program
60 pts
Consider: the musical journey/presentation, creativity, clarity of thought, musical content.
Fulfillment
40 pts
Consider: communication, musicianship, presence, idiomatic interpretation, expression, and excellence as it relates to effectiveness.
Total 100 pts
Judging will be based on the criteria listed above. Judges’ scores will be averaged to determine the final score. In the event of a tie, the Fulfillment score will be used as the first tiebreaker. If there is still a tie, then the rankings by each judge will be used. If there is still a tie after that, we will have co-winners and both winners will receive awards.
Soloists
Individual Solo Guidelines
Soloists receive ratings as follows: a rating of I for a solo of 85 pts or higher, a rating of II for 70–84 pts, and a rating of III for a score of 69 and below. The top three solos in each category receive a trophy, respectively. Solos must be within the time limits listed or are subject to penalty by the contest director. If a solo is over the time limit it must be cut. Soloists may be accompanied.
Time limits of performance
- Snare Drum Solo
- min 1:30 / max 4:00
- Keyboard Solo
- min 2:00 / max 7:00
- Multi-Tenors Solo
- min 1:30 / max 4:00
- Timpani Solo
- min 1:30 / max 5:00
- Multiple-Percussion Solo
- min 1:30 / max 4:00
Snare / Tenor Rubric
Execution / Technique
50 pts
Consider: quality of sound, clarity of articulation, timing and rhythmic accuracy, implement control, demand, precision, consistency.
Repertoire / Music Effect
50 pts
Consider: range, construction and complexity, variety/vocabulary, exposure to error, musicality, showmanship/communication, and professionalism.
Total 100 pts
Keyboard / Timpani / Multiple Percussion Rubric
Performance
50 pts
Consider: precision, technique, interpretation, clarity, implement control, complexity of repertoire, intonation, tone quality.
Musical Effectiveness
50 pts
Consider: overall effectiveness, musicianship, expression, professionalism, showmanship, creativity.
Total 100 pts
Scores
Sheet Music Guidelines
To facilitate effective comments, all soloists and ensembles must provide 3 copies of the score for judges to review during the performance. Any self-composed solos must be fully notated and submitted to Shawn Morales at least two weeks prior to the festival for approval, pending its clarity of notation to ensure accuracy in judging.
Snare/Multi-Tenors and Keyboard/Timpani/Multiple Percussion categories are evaluated on their own sheets, respectively. Judges’ scores are averaged to determine the final score. In the snare drum/multi-tenors competition the Execution score is the tie-breaker; in the keyboard/timpani/multiple percussion competition the Performance score is the tie-breaker. If a tie remains, the rankings by each judge are used, and if a tie still exists there will be co-winners.