2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE: 

8:00  Participant Check in

9:00 – 10:45 Rehearsal #1

11:00-1:15 Lunch (Bring your own) and sectionals

1:30-2:15  Hartt Faculty Performance

2:30-5:30 Rehearsal #2, Dress Rehearsals, and Dinner (provided)

6:00  Concert (FREE!)

FESTIVAL TIMELINE AND DATES:

WED SEP 23:   Nominations Close

FRI SEP 25:   Teachers informed of accepted students

FRI OCT 02:   Deadline for student forms (shared via email)

MON OCT 05:   Digital music shared via email

FESTIVAL DETAILS:

TEACHER  SUPERVISION: 

• A teacher must be present on campus for the duration of the festival. Please consider joining for the CT-ASTA Teacher Workshop! 

• Sponsoring teachers may join for meals if they wish. Please indicate selections on your festival invoice.

  • TEACHER WORKSHOP LUNCHEON (lunch only; no workshop attendance included)- $20

  • STUDENT DINNER (pizza + salad)- $15

MUSIC:  Please nominate students who can prepare  ~20 minutes of music in 4-5 weeks' time.

• High School: Grade 2.5-3.5 Music

• Middle School: Grade 1-2 Music

NOMINATION  CRITERIA: You may nominate up to 7 students. Nomination does not guarantee selection. Teachers are guaranteed a minimum of 2 students representing their school. Students are selected with the following in mind:

• Teacher ranking- Rate your students highest to lowest. A ranking of "1" means, this is the student to whom I would MOST like to give this opportunity.

• School participation- We aim to have all participating schools as equally represented as possible while striving for balanced instrumentation.

• Grade level- Older students will be given preference if needed.

PAYMENT DETAILS:

Teachers will receive a list of selected students and an invoice within a few days after nominations have closed.

STUDENT CONTRACTS: Teachers will receive a contract to share with accepted students. 

COST: $46 per student- includes festival experience (rehearsals and sectionals), T-shirt, and dinner at the 1877 Club at the University of Hartford.

PAYMENT TYPE: Checks payable to CT-ASTA. Please provide one check from your school for all students. No personal checks will be accepted.

INVOICE: You will receive an email with a list of selected students and a fillable invoice. Bring invoice/payment to the festival, or mail beforehand (address shared via email).