​Timeline for Junior and Adult Festival Participation

Read complete instructions for each form.

SUMMER
Teachers

• Join a Senior Club in your area of the state and pay dues directly to that club, or pay for an Individual Membership ($50) and send the fee directly to the AFMC Treasurer.
• After July 1st, ARCHIVE in Vivace any former students of yours who participated in Festival. (If the student has a new teacher, that teacher will not be able to register him or her for Festival if they have not been archived by you.)
• Review Student History Reports – notify Area Chair of any errors, especially in ratings, levels, and combining/alternating points so corrections can be made in Vivace
• Order a Federation Festivals Bulletin from the National Federation of Music Clubs:  nfmc-music.org.  If purchasing the online version, send copy or screenshot of receipt to your area chair who will submit it to NFMC so you can be granted access to the bulletin.
• Read the first sections of the Festivals Bulletin for instructions: “General Festival Rules” and “Official Federation Cup Award Plan,” as well as regulations listed within each category in which you might enter students.

Area Chairs

• Secure Festival Site, date and time.
• After July 1st, ARCHIVE in Vivace any teachers who are no longer participating in your Area Festival.
• For teachers purchasing the online bulletin: send Sandra Preysz at [email protected] the following information via email:
  Name of new member including Festival area and state NFMC receipt verifying purchase of the Bulletin.
• Obtain the Junior Festival Procedures Manual JR 3-18 from the NFMC website under Festivals: https://www.nfmc-music.org/festival/   Read carefully.

Additional helpful resources found under Festivals on the NFMC website:

• JR 3-1 Junior Festival Transfer Information
• JR 3-5 Information for Festival Judges
• JR 3-6 Rating Average Chart
• JR 3-9 Festival Rating Sheet (use only as example – print for Festival in Vivace)
• JR 3-9A Festival Rating Definitions
• JR 3-13 Specially Capable Junior Musicians

 
AUTUMN
Area Chairs

• In Vivace, set up the new Festival, with registration open date (Nov. 1 or later) and close date.
• Let teachers know the deadline date for items you need from them so you can meet the state deadlines: certificate orders, forms, and fees.
• Due by September 24, 2026: send nfmc.afmc_26-27_festival_certificates-theory_test_order.pdf form to the AFMC Festival Chair.  *Email if possible! 
  • Theory Test order tip: just answer yes or no - specific number not needed.
• Due by November 1, 2025: send nfmc.afmc_25-26_jr_fest.liability_request.pdf form and nfmc.afmc_25-26_child_protection_policy.pdf form to the AFMC Festival Chair. *Email if possible!
• Due by November 1, 2025: Send nfmc.afmc_25-26_junior_club_dues.pdf form to the AFMC Festival Chair, and the form plus fees to the AFMC Treasurer.  Fees are as follows:
  • $22 for the first 16 members of a Junior club and $1.50 for each additional member.
  • $6 per teacher/counselor for the required subscription to Junior Keynotes Magazine.
  • Junior Dues form tip: You may list additional teachers' information on the back (second page), or in a separate document (word processing or spreadsheet) so you can save and update it year by year.

Teachers

• Send all information, orders, and fees to your Area Chairs by the established deadlines.
• Due by November 1, 2025: If you are retaining your own studio junior club, send in Junior Club Dues Form to the AFMC Festival Chair, and the Form plus fees to the AFMC Treasurer.  (See "Junior Club Dues" in Area Chair section above for form and details.)
• Purchase copies of music selections (Choice, and "Required" as listed in the Festival Bulletin) from music stores in your area and/or online.
• Register students in Vivace within the time frame set by your Area Chair.  You must pay Senior Club dues and students' Junior Club dues before registering for Festival.

 
WINTER
Area Chairs

• Procure judges to adjudicate at the Festival.
• Arrange for volunteers to help with Festival.
• After registration closes, send teachers Vivace invoices. All event and Federation Cup fees must be paid BEFORE Festival.

Teachers

• Offer to assist the Area Chair before the Festival and during the day of the Festival event.

 
SPRING
Area Chairs
      Within 2 weeks after your area festival send:

• To AFMC Festival Chair and Federation Cup Chair
  • Vivace-generated reports by EMAIL:
    • JR 3-3: All, Junior and Adult
    • JR 3-4: All, Junior and Adult
    • JR 4-2 Federation Cup Program Dues: Junior, Adult
    • JR 4-10: Federation Cups Junior, Adult
    • JR 4-11 Federation Cup Opt-Out (if applicable)
    • Word processing or spreadsheet document listing current information of area teachers receiving cups (phone number, email, physical address for shipping). Please ask your teachers to verify this information so they can receive their cups                                                   
• To AFMC Treasurer
  • Vivace-generated reports by MAIL with fees ($4 per event, $6 per Federation Cup Program – payable to AFMC):
    • JR 3-3 Summary Report: All, Junior and Adult (with event fees)
    • JR 4-2* Federation Cup Program Dues: Junior, Adult (with cup fees)
      *mail pages listing program participants for the entire area only – please do not send the pages listing individual teachers’ participants

Current Festival & Federation Cup Chair:
Jolene Williams
424 N. Ross Maddox Rd.
Pearcy, AR 71964
[email protected]
501-545-6374

Current AFMC Treasurer:
Jimmie Stephens
2287 Boston Ave.
New Boston, TX 75570
(903) 276-7139
[email protected]