On Feb. 8, 2025, Floyd Central will host the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival. This event will give band and orchestra students at FC and many other high schools the chance to showcase their musical abilities through either a solo or a group piece, known as an ensemble. They will perform to be judged for state qualification. Students will be judged based on their performance and will receive a bronze, silver, or gold rating.
“There are different group levels you can perform in; five is the lowest, one is the highest, and if you perform in Group One and receive a gold, you qualify for the state Solo and Ensemble in February,” said junior cello player Ana Gonzalez.
Over 1,000 students from different high schools will be traveling across southern Indiana to participate. Some schools include New Albany, Scribner, Hazelwood, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, New Washington, Corydon, Brownsburg and North Harrison.
“Performing at another school is definitely intimidating since I come from a very small school. It’s fun to have a change of scenery and people to play around, though,” said senior clarinet player Emma Vuyovich from Brownsburg High School.
The students do not compete to play, nor is the solo and ensemble itself a contest—it is an elective performance. Often, many students volunteer or are encouraged by a teacher or private director they should participate. Other times, there are so many kids involved who want to volunteer, but there are too many students to fit them all into one ensemble.
“Our chamber orchestra has 20 kids in it, but you can only allow 20 of the nearly 80 kids in the top orchestra. I ask for them to volunteer for their interest in playing, and then I’ll fill it with as many kids from that body as I can,” said Orchestra director Doug Elmore.
The directors can also decide to form an ensemble based on how many performers they have. Elmore decided to make a viola ensemble with their 13 top viola players.
“I said, ‘Well, let’s do a viola ensemble. Should we ask for volunteers?’ And the lead guy said, ‘Nope. We’re all doing it,’” said Elmore.
For some student musicians, performing a solo or ensemble piece can be the most exciting part.
“I’m doing the ‘Glazunov Concerto.’ It’s really just pushed for me to practice more and more, and it’s a really fun piece to play as well,” said junior saxophone player Daniel Detrick.
In contrast, for junior oboe player Nyx Brewer, their favorite part is listening to other performances.
“Honestly, my favorite part is listening to other people. I love hearing other people’s solos and hearing how much they worked,” said Brewer
As soon as winter break ends, students have to mentally prepare themselves for a packed schedule within the upcoming weeks. Performing in an event like Solo and Ensemble means students find many different ways to practice their pieces.

“I have been working on my solo since before the summer. I take private lessons once a week, and I try to practice at least three days a week. Our quartet has met up a few times to rehearse, and the chamber ensemble practices during class time since there are so many of us,” said Gonzalez.
Students find the challenge of participating to be an important factor in growing as a musician. Elmore believes that the most intense growth happens when they are responsible for their own work. For students like Vuyovich, coming in from another school to be judged by other performers is vital in her journey to improve her skills.
“I’ve been able to focus on specific techniques or rhythms that challenge me. It gives me the chance to critique myself as an individual musician rather than as a member of an ensemble,” said Vuyovich.
According to Elmore, Solo and Ensemble has become an important part of band and orchestra students’ musical development at FC. It has grown significantly since the first year FC hosted the Solo and Ensemble Festival in 1986.
“My first year here, we had seven kids play solos and one string quartet. That’s less than 10 entries total. This year, we have 65 entries. At a point, participation in Solo and Ensemble kind of took on a life of its own, and it has now developed its own momentum,” said Elmore.
Students explain that the possibility of going to the state Solo and Ensemble contest looming over their heads can be nerve-racking. Senior flute player Sam Blank explained ways that she combats the nerves and grounds herself before performing.
“I mean, I still get nervous for everything, especially my solos because I want to do the best that I can. Usually, I just tell myself that ‘whatever happens, happens’. But also, I just know that the judges here are very nice, so it’s just a great way to keep myself calm and not get too overworked about it,” said Blank.