A group is eligible for participation in the Elementary/Middle School category if all students involved are under the age of 14, or are full time students at an Elementary or Middle School (not necessarily the same school).  The ensemble’s parent organization may be a school, private institution, community, or non-profit arts organization. Only one director and one assistant director can be permitted to perform in the adjudicated performance in order to maintain equity across all competing groups in this category. By default, this category is NOT eligible for Grand Champion - if you intend for your Elementary / Middle School ensemble to be adjudicated for Grand Champion, they must register in the Open Category.

A group is eligible for participation in the High School category if all students involved are under the age of 19, or are full time students at a high school (not necessarily the same high school). The ensemble’s parent organization may be a school, private institution, community, or non-profit arts organization. Any group registered in this category is eligible for Grand Champion. Only one director and one assistant director can be permitted to perform in the adjudicated performance in order to maintain equity across all competing groups in this category.

Any group is eligible for participation in the Open category regardless of age or affiliation with a specific organization and may include private music schools, colleges/universities, community ensembles, etc. Guest artists are not eligible to perform with the ensemble. Any group registered in this category is eligible for Grand Champion. There is no limit to the number of directors who are permitted to perform in this category.

• All High School and Open groups are allotted up to 20 minutes total to perform 3 to 5 selections of the director’s choice.
• Elementary/Middle School groups are allotted up to 15 minutes total to perform 2 to 4 selections of the director’s choice
• Timing: A double-sided timer will be in place for on and off-stage visibility. Adjudication time for each band shall commence when the first note(s) is struck and conclude when the last note(s) is struck before the panel of judges. One adjudicator will be chosen during the adjudicators meeting to be in charge of starting and stopping the clock
• There will be a five (5) point deduction from the TOTAL score for exceeding the performance time limit. No penalty for playing less than the allotted time.
• There will be a five (5) point deduction from the TOTAL score for any band that has more than two (2) directors at a time performing on stage in the Elementary/Middle and High School Categories
• Total on-stage time including set-up, performance, and break down, is not to exceed 45 minutes

• There is no required test piece. Repertoire should match the ensemble's abilities
• All bands will be playing “cold”, as there will be no warm-up location
• All music performed will be adjudicated. However, a group may opt-out of the competition component at the director’s discretion and the group will not be included in the awards ceremony
• Guest artists are not allowed to perform with any ensemble in your adjudicated performance

• There will be five adjudicators total. The five adjudicators will evaluate Open, Highschool, and  Elementary/Middle School groups 
• In all cases, the highest and lowest scores for each band shall be excluded, and the bands’ total score will be the sum of the remaining three (3) of five (5) scores. Comment sheets from all adjudicators will still be available for director(s)
• In the event that two or more adjudicators award the same score to a band at the highest or lowest level, only one of these scores at each level will be eliminated 
• All Elementary/Middle School category bands will be adjudicated using the same rubric

• In the interest of fairness and compliance, Grand Champion will be awarded to the High School or Open category band with the highest overall score based on the rubric provided.

• Adjudicators will have the liberty to give special/honorable mentions to bands on aspects of their performance that proved noteworthy
• The final verdict of a band's score upon the judges’ completing their deliberation will require that that final score be documented numerically and that the documented score shall be used solely to determine the correct ordinal placement of each band's position in the final placement. These final results will be posted publicly in order to provide complete transparency
• Copies of music scores are not required or necessary for the adjudicators

If a band director was unable to complete the repertoire portion of their PANFest EmailMeForm during registration, the PANFest Group Set List Form must be typed and submitted at least one week before the competition date. before the competition to allow time for the announcers to review the information.  There will be no opportunity for directors to speak. 

There will be 2 stages used simultaneously during the competition. While one band is performing on one stage, the break-down of the previous band and set-up of the consecutive band will take place on the other. Although there is no limit on the number of participants in each group, no band may have a larger footprint than 30’x30’ (30 feet by 30 feet). Each group will be required to provide a stage plot at least two weeks before the competition date.

5 piece drum set with cymbals if requested. Please specify on the Stage Plot form if you will be using your own drum set. Stage crew will assist with backline set up. Music stands will NOT be provided.

Each group is required to provide their own setup crew. At times, festival stage crew will be available to assist with stage setup, but will not be responsible for the setup or any damage.

• Technique: 20 
• Facility of movement, roll speed, accuracy
• Rhythm: 20
• Steady tempo, clarity, strumming strength, unison hits, syncopation
• Tone: 10
• Balance, touch, clarity, blend, tuning

Collective Expression, Versatility, & Nuance 

• Expression: 20
• Dynamics, phrasing: Performers convey an artistic, energetic, and emotional understanding of the music to the audience
• Style: 10
• Appropriate stylistic elements to reflect the varied genres of arrangements/selections

Programming and Visual Presentation

• Stage Presence: 15
• Performers appropriately dressed, movement/visual expression, communication/connection with audience
• General Effect: 5 
• Setlist/repertoire is effective, production component, overall effect

GOOD - 70-79
EXCELLENT - 80-89  
SUPERIOR - 90-100