2024 Concert Band MPA

Concert Band MPA Information 
  • CONCERT BAND MPA 2024- Patrick Haymore and Jonathan Stafford
  • • Location: Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory*
    • HS MPA Dates 2024: March 12-15
    • MS MPA Dates 2024: March 19-21
Lenoir-Rhyne University
625 7th Ave NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Registration Fee

$250.00 -  per ensemble

Registration Process

The Registration Deadline is February 9th, 2024
Here is the information for the 2024 Concert Band MPA.  Please remember that the registration deadline has changed and is now due February 9, 2024.  This is the week BEFORE the All District Band Clinic.  You are also more than welcome to hand deliver checks/registration at All District Auditions.  

Basic Concert Band MPA Information 
  • High School MPA dates: March 12-15 
    • Adjudicators - March 12-13 - Trey Harris (Bassett HS-VA), David Webb (Jefferson Forest HS-VA), Brian McMath (Northwest Guilford HS), Chris Cole - Sight reading (Kings Mountain HS, retired)
    • Adjudicators - March 14-15 - Mark Collins (Daniel Boone HS-VA), Dr. Daniel Pettus (Anderson University-SC), Brian McMath (Northwest Guilford HS), Mekel Rogers - Sight reading (Weddington MS, retired)   
  • Middle School MPA dates: March 19-21
    • Adjudicators - Jennifer Isenhour - Sight reading (Gold Hill MS-SC), Kirk Godbey (SC), Jerry Lowe (Retired, North Lincoln MS), Connie Grantham (Fort Mill, retired) 
  • All events are at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC 

2024 Information 

  • High School MPA is now four days long and will be using two judging panels. Both panels will be listening to ALL grade levels of music. All high school bands will need to attend MPA on High School week (March 12-15).
  • MPA- Rule 3C Revision: Where a school has more than one band, duplication of personnel will be permitted so long as the percentage of duplicate personnel in either ensemble does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total number of students involved in either ensemble (i.e. each ensemble can only contain 20% duplicate personnel) or no more than 5 participants, whichever is greater. For the purposes of calculating duplicate personnel, if a student performs on different instruments listed separately for All-State Honor Band auditions in multiple ensembles, they would not count as duplicates. 
  • No electronics will be allowed for 2024 unless specified by the composer.
  • Sight-reading will return to UIL 1 through 5 (pre-pandemic) and will be ONE-LEVEL below the level of stage music (ex. NC Grade 3 Bands will sightread UIL Level 2).
  • Bands will again be allowed to program flex-band arrangements of titles that are currently on the MPA list. They will enter under the category of "Grade Level - Flex" (example: IV-Flex). Flex-bands will receive a rating. Flex ensembles will be required to sight-read one level below the level of the stage music (same as non-flex ensembles). Judges will be notified to not penalize bands with incomplete instrumentation and to judge “what they hear” instead of “what they don’t hear.” Directors are encouraged to know how they would like to proceed before they enter the sight-reading room.
  • No ensemble from the same school may perform any composition for Concert Band MPA more than once within a four-year period for high school and three-year period for middle school.
  • Proof of publisher permission for copied musical scores must be emailed to chairperson at least one week prior to the event, as well as, attached to each copied score.   

Registration 
  • The registration deadline is Friday, February 9, 2024. (Special scheduling requests are considered on a first-come basis based on payment)
  • Registration is a TWO step process:
Step 1 - Mail the following items to your MPA Chairperson (addresses below)
  • Completed and signed PDF Registration Form: (PDF Registration Form)
  • Copy of your current NAfME card should be uploaded to the online registration form.  
  • School/Booster Check or Money Order.  Personal checks will not be accepted.  Checks are payable to NCMEA with either "HS MPA" or "MS MPA" in the memo line.  
Step 2 - Complete the Online Registration Form: (Online MPA Registration ) 
  • If you need a quote for your bookkeeper, please let your Concert Band MPA Chairperson know.  
  • Please review procedures for obtaining permission to perform out of district if you have a conflict with our district's Concert Band MPA dates.

Patrick Haymore - [email protected] 
High School MPA Chairperson
Granite Falls Middle School
4 West Highland Avenue
Granite Falls, NC 28630


Jonathan Stafford - [email protected]
Middle School MPA Chairperson
South Caldwell High School
7035 Spartan Drive
Hudson, NC 28638


Music Selections
  • Four-Year Repertoire History - Four-Year Rep History is based on the school, not the ensemble. 
  • Updated 2024 NCBA MPA List
  • There are no minimum grade level requirements.  High school bands can play music off of the Grade 1 list.  Select music that is appropriate for your ensemble.
  • Don't forget that you need three extra scores for your adjudicators.  Directors using e-Print scores must show proof of purchase for all three scores (not photocopies of one purchase).  
  • Chad Evans will be sending out information on our district's Score Share program.  Please consider using and adding to it!  Directors will be asked to review and verify each shared score on the day of the event.    

Helpful Information 
  • Policies and Procedures - Please read this, even if you are a veteran teacher.  Again, MPA Rule 3C is REVISED for 2024. Directors must adhere to the updates for 2024.
  • NCBA Concert Band MPA website - Contains the updated MPA music list and as well as other helpful information. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your appropriate MPA Chairperson.  We are here to help.
Good luck in your MPA preparations!

-Patrick and Jon
​


Sight Reading Guidelines 

Please refer to the NCBA Sightreading Guidelines 
How much time will we get in the Sightreading room, and what are we allowed to do? 
The times are: 
• Grades II, III and IV – five minutes 
• Grade V – six minutes 
• Grade VI – seven minutes. 
During that time they may clap rhythms, sing parts, count out loud and finger instruments, but they may not play their instruments. Each band may play a brief warm-up scale at the conclusion of the preparation period. During the actual performance directors may call out rehearsal letters or numbers and verbal cues (e.g. “more trumpets”, “tubas watch”) but may not sing parts or rhythms while the band is playing. Only one director may work with the band in the sight reading room.

MPA Approved Music List

Please refer to the Official MPA List.  If you perform any music that is not on this list, you will be disqualified. "Can I use photocopies of the Conductor’s Scores for the judges?" The only time that photocopies are acceptable is when you have ordered the scores and they have not come in by the time you perform. In this situation, you MUST have a letter from the publisher (not the sheet music store) giving permission to use photocopies. Also, do not forget to number the measures of the scores for the judges.

MPA Adjudicator Forms 

MPA Forms