NEW GLARUS — Students from area schools will participate in a Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) sanctioned Concert Music Festival hosted at New Glarus High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. During the festival, which is free and open to the public, each school’s choir ensemble groups will perform before a panel of adjudicators while students from other schools listen in as part of their own learning experience.

The festival will draw choirs from a number of area schools, including Columbus High School, Nikolay Middle School, Lake Mills High School, Marshall High School, Marshall Middle School, New Glarus High School, and New Glarus Middle School. Em Sternberg, choir director from New Glarus, will be serving as the festival manager.

“WSMA is proud of the quality music education experiences we support teachers in providing for their students. Our long-standing festival programs encourage well-rounded musicians who develop deeper understanding through performance preparation that culminates in comprehensive feedback from a qualified adjudicator. This opportunity, coupled with observing and listening to peer performances, is invaluable for musical growth,” said WSMA Executive Director Laurie Fellenz.

WSMA music festivals support school music programs as part of a comprehensive education by encouraging the study of quality music literature; motivating students to prepare and perform to the best of their abilities; improving students’ understanding of music literature and concepts (performance through understanding) and providing a performance assessment to improve individual and group achievement.

For more information on WSMA, go to www.wsmamusic.org.