Officials Appreciation Week: Music Adjudicators

Performing arts students’ experience playing music wouldn’t be what it is without adjudicators.

Adjudication provides opportunities for performing arts students to develop by further improving their skills through constructive feedback provided by those who are often experts in their field and have dedicated their time to listening and providing feedback based on the criteria for a performance. Apart from the role of judge and mentor during auditions and assessments, adjudicators often take on many other roles in the high school music community, allowing for enriching experiences like competitions and festivals to take place.

They are a critical component to high school music in nearly every way. And while they may often find themselves with the “judge” label, Colorado Music Adjudication Association president and Colorado High School Activities Association hall of famer Gary Ambrosier says Colorado’s adjudicators’ mission is far more about education than simply evaluation.

“I think one of the things we all strive for, at least for me, is every time I listen to a group perform I try to identify their strong points and what they need a little help in,” Ambrosier said. “We’re here to educate, and not just the musicians but the young instructors. We’re here to provide them with support so hopefully their program can grow, not just in talent but in numbers. As judges, we’re listening to all those 14 categories and filling out that adjudication sheet looking to provide some suggestions that can help them improve and accomplish their goals.”

Ambrosier was an adjudicator and music teacher at the high school level for 40 years across multiple states. Now retired, he is still actively involved with the CHSAA music committee, which is administered by CHSAA Assistant Commissioner Rashaan Davis, as he assigns the judges for all of the festivals across the state of Colorado.

He also is not the only adjudicator in Colorado who is passionate about music education. Not even close.

Rebecca Jonas, who has also taught music in the Denver Public School District and the St. Vrain Valley School District, left the classroom at Highlands Ranch in 2020 to get a masters in music education and counseling. Now, she runs a private counseling practice that focuses on the needs of musicians and artists, and does guest conducting and adjudicating, as well as freelance performing.

For Jonas, becoming an adjudicator was a way for her to give back to the community that has provided her with so much.

“I thought it was a good way to give back to an amazing community of music educators,” said Jonas, who has been an adjudicator for nearly 10 years. “Throughout my career, good adjudicators have been an important part of my career and have also been so helpful and inspiring for my students. It was really exciting to become a part of that bigger community and to learn and understand what’s going on throughout the state.

“It’s important to inspire change and advocate for all the great things going on throughout the community, especially with CHSAA.”

When he started organizing, Wayne Genova was the music supervisor for District 60. He worked in the District 60 system for 36 years before retiring. He started as a middle school teacher, moved up to high school and then was the music supervisor for the district. On top of the many roles he was already filling at District 60, Genova also decided to become an adjudicator and has now been judging for over 20 years.

“I wanted to try to make the festival as good and effective as possible for the choirs and the bands,” Genova said. “That led into some opportunities to do some judging and hopefully use some of my skill and knowledge to help the teachers, especially young teachers, and obviously the kids. That turned into some really enjoyable experiences and I’ve loved doing it ever since.”

CHSAA will wrap up its Music Festival season next week, with three events on Wednesday – the Southwestern Instrumental at Bayfield High School, the Legacy Vocal Festival at Legacy High School and the CHSAA Show Choir Festival at Fossil Ridge High School – and one on Thursday: CHSAA Jazz and A Cappella Festival at Fossil Ridge High School.

Are you interested in becoming a music adjudicator in Colorado? If so, learn more about the process in the Music Adjudicators Handbook.