2026 State Music Festival Preview | Dates, Locations & Details

This episode previews MSHSAA’s 2026 State Music Festival, an evaluative “festival” rather than a competitive championship, featuring state solo and ensemble events. Associate Executive Director, James Melton, shares that the festival will be held at the University of Missouri in Columbia over three days—April 30, May 1, and May 2—with school groups rotating B, then C, then A, using multiple buildings including Memorial Union. They explain classifications, district qualification via exemplary ratings (about 45% advancing), and expected participation of roughly 4,500–5,000 events representing about 7,000 students across 31–32 rooms in seven-minute recital-style performances. They cover performance rules, out-of-state adjudicators, volunteer needs, lodging/parking planning, and a centennial-year featured National Anthem moment on Lowry Mall around 12:15 with an honor guard and musicians.