Canyon Lake students asked to submit solo music videos

Although a solitary echo may be the only sound reverberating inside empty performance halls and school music rooms in Riverside County, creative music and choral teachers and their students are eager to perform.

To showcase their diligent focus on their craft, the Riverside County Office of Education is inviting students to submit their best performances for judging at two Virtual Solo Music Festivals this month. Canyon Lake vocal and instrumental music middle and high school students are invited to submit performances for judging and awards along with others from throughout the county.

“For too long, family members and neighbors over the fence or through the walls at home have been the only audience for our student musicians,” Louisa Higgins, Visual and Performing Arts Administrator at the Riverside County Office of Education, said. “This free opportunity for students provides a stage that hasn’t been available to them all year long, while also opening the door to an audience with college-level adjudicators who can provide feedback to encourage and foster their continued musical development.”

To participate, middle and high school students need to upload recordings of their vocal or instrumental performances. Students will receive feedback on their performance from college-level music instructors—much like traditional Honor Band or Honor Choir performance competitions that students might otherwise have participated in before the pandemic.

There are two festivals in which students can participate. One for instrumental musicians and one for vocalists. The submission window for the vocalists is this coming week, Feb. 15 through Feb. 22. The instrumental solo submission window is Feb. 22 through Feb. 28.

Vocalist students can upload a video of the song of their choice. They will receive feedback from Dr. Kellori Dower of Santa Ana College and Dr. Nicholle Andrews of University of Redlands. All participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a commemorative patch. To participate visit www.rcoe.us/vocal-festival for details or contact Louisa Higgins at lhiggins@rcoe.us.

Instrumental students (winds, strings, percussionists) can upload a video of a solo, etude or concerti of their choice (accompaniment is not mandatory). They will receive feedback from Dr. Gregory Whitmore of CSU Fullerton, Dr. Jake Sustaita of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and Dr. Rickey Badua of Cal Poly Pomona. All participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a commemorative patch. To participate visit www.rcoe.us/honor-band for details or contact Louisa Higgins at
lhiggins@rcoe.us.

Video submission/ performance parameters concerning performance programming as well as performance tips and suggestions are available via the event webpage. Only submissions uploaded through the RCOE Solo Festival Video Submission Portal will be accepted.