Organizing a Music Festival

[Jenny Smith]

I got the following email today:

Quote:

My name is , I an a member in England. I was looking through your web site for material that could help me organise a ward music festival. I am sure you are very busy, but if you know of any site that might be able to help me could you point me in the right direction.

The first place to look is the Activity Book available from Church Distribution at this link. It was published in 1977, but has lots of information on how to plan Music activities and the kinds of events that can be held.

Here are some links I found relating to ward music festivals at http://library.lds.org that will give you some ideas:

The Los Angeles Music Festival

Much Ado About Something – Shakespearean themed festival

The Best Thing We’ve Done – describes how interest increased over time for their music festival

Nothing But A Title – about an Arts festival in LA

How to put on a Winning Roadshow – Q&A on how one man inspires the musicians and actors for his units roadshows

Sing Out Strong – describes one stake’s successful Choral festival

I did a search for “ward music festival”, but you can probably find more by searching for “music festival”.

Basically, I think you’ll
1) pick a theme
2) schedule a date for the festival with your building representative
2) contact bishops and/or music leaders in each unit to give them information on the theme or assignemtns (for stake music festivals) and/or contact auxilliary leaders to give them information on the theme and/or assignments
3) follow up on plans and offer assistance or make assignments
4) make up programs with the performers’ names and numbers. If you have a sing in, include lyrics and music of the song you’ll sing as a group.
5) hold the event!
6) evaluate your festival and determine what worked and what didn’t

Hope this helps!
-j

[Jenny Smith]

Check out this post on music for more ideas:

Getting people out to ward choir

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