CJ Replay: Thoughts on Adjudication

     As adjudicators, we have often been asked, “What do you expect from the students performing, the teachers directing, and thee festival workshop host or hostess?” The answer to all three is: attitude, expertise, and consistency. These are criteria we apply to ourselves.

     First and foremost we project, and demand in return, a positive attitude. We emphasize participation first, and winning second. It is far more important to participate, learn and grow, than to take home a winning trophy. We try to be as positive as possible in our critique. We look for positive facial expression from the students, and more importantly, positive attitudes from the directors. If teachers and their students think they are losers because they haven’t carted home a trophy, then they are. However, if priorities are in order and they understand the basic concepts of positive reinforcement, then no matter what place they finish, they walk out a winner. Whether or not they win or lose is up to them-not the adjudicator. The adjudicator only has the power to evaluate on brief performance, which may or may not have been their best. All things considered one performance is a matter of small importance in relationship to the groups overall program. On the other hand, the adjudicator has a· limited amount of time to interact with a director and his students. Again, since this time is short, an emphasis is placed on positive reinforcement and helpful, corrective criticism.

 

(From the Choral Journal article “Adjudication: Some things to think About,” by Gene and Audrey Grier.)