ELIGIBILITY
- Any United States scholastic music program (curricular or extracurricular) or scholastic music booster organization is eligible to enter.
- All curricular and extracurricular scholastic music programs are eligible to submit entries. This includes band, choir, orchestra, general music, and any other type of scholastic music program.
- Programs serving any age level (elementary, middle, or high school) are eligible.
- Public, private, parochial, and charter schools are eligible.
- Anyone may submit an entry (teacher, student, parent, etc.). All entries will require the signature of the program director/instructor.
- Eligible entries must have been produced or implemented during the 2019-2020 academic school year.
- Each entry must be completed in its entirety in order to be eligible to win.
- Each entry must be submitted by Septemeber 15, 2020 in order to be eligible to win. Physical materials and submissions sent to the Music for All office must be postmarked by this date in order to be eligible.
FEE
There is no entry fee.
ENTRIES
- Each program, material, or activity will be considered one entry.
- One entrant can submit multiple entries in multiple categories; however, each entry requires a separate application.
- All entries require applicants to provide a written summary of the item being entered. Specific guidelines for each entry will vary based on the category and type of submission.
- Supporting materials may be included with each entry. Applicants may submit up to 10 photos, documents, videos, and/or objects supporting their entry. Video materials must follow our video submission guidelines.
- If you are entering a physical object in this category, including posters, programs, and merchandise, please mail a physical copy of the object to the Music for All office.
Music for All, Inc.
39 W. Jackson Place
Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46225
Please note: Items submitted are NOT able to be returned.
SELECTION PROCESS
- Entries will be adjudicated by a panel of educators, administrators, community leaders, Music for All partners, and business leaders recognized for achievement in each category.
- Adjudication criteria differs for each category.
- “Gold,” “Silver,” “Bronze,” and “Honorable Mention” distinctions will be awarded in each category for the highest achieving entries.
THE WINNERS
- All award recipients will be notified by email on or before December 1, 2020. Notification will be sent to the contact listed on the entry form.
- Honorees may be asked to submit additional information or be interviewed for Advocacy in Action promotional materials.
- 2021 Advocacy in Action Awards recipients will be publicly announced in January 2021.
- Winning entries will be promoted as featured advocacy content throughout the 2021 Music for All National Festival, Summer Symposium, and Bands of America Fall Marching Championships.
- Winning entries will also be promoted at state and national music education events where Music for All has a presence.
RELEASE & USAGE
By submitting your entry to the Advocacy in Action Awards, you grant Music for All the right to use any submitted materials, including but not limited to photos and video, for editorial, analytical, promotional, or any other purposes without additional compensation or permission. In addition, you acknowledge that your entry and any corresponding materials are not returnable. The complete submission of an entry indicates acknowledgment and agreement to these terms.
VIDEO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Video submissions and supporting video materials may be submitted in one of two ways. You may upload a link to a video hosted via an online platform, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Videos may also be submitted as digital attachments or via a physical storage device, such as a CD or USB drive. Videos submissions and materials (e.g. Outstanding Recruitment Video, etc) have a 20 minute maximum length.
Please note: Video materials submitted as file attachments will only be accepted in the following formats: .mp4 or .mov video files.
Are You Ready to Apply?
Applications are due September 15, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Q: Is there a limit to the number of entries I can submit?
A: No. You may submit as many entries to as many categories as you wish, but keep in mind that multiple entries each require a separate application.
Q: Are we able to enter multiple items (that are different) in the same category, for the same event?
A: YES – of course you can! Everyone has different versions of their program book – t-shirts – promotional items etc. So yes, if you have more than one – up your odds and enter them all!
Q: My entry might fit into more than one category. Can I submit it in both?
A: Yes. An entry that fulfills the requirements of a submission in more than one category may be entered in both categories. Please note that every submission requires a separate application.
Q: I’m a student in my school music program. Can I submit an entry for something our program does?
A: Anyone is eligible to submit an entry for the Advocacy in Action Awards. We do ask, however, that anyone nominating their local music program verify their submission with the signature of their program’s director/instructor.
Q: Who evaluates the Advocacy in Action Awards entries?
A: Evaluators will include educators, administrators, community leaders, Music for All partners, and business leaders recognized for achievement in each category.
Q: How are the Advocacy in Action Awards entries Evaluated?
A: Each category will be assigned a panel of 3-5 evaluators. This panel will evaluate based on criteria specific to their respective category.
Each and every music program that enters is unique; therefore, evaluation is based on the subjective opinion of the judges based on their experience and expertise in the profession and their knowledge of that category area.
We do not reveal the names of the evaluators as we make every effort to protect them from questions – opting to direct all the questions about the evaluation process and the awards directly to Music for All instead.
Q: For categories that require a link to be submitted, how long should the links remain active?
A: Even though you may be submitting your entries in spring or summer, entries will not be evaluated until the fall. Even after the judging takes place, there is work that must occur in order to prepare the materials for the Awards Presentation and online publishing. We ask that all links remain active through January of the next calendar year.
If you have further questions about the Advocacy in Action Awards, please contact Cecily Yoakam at (317) 636-2263 or cecily.y@musicforall.org .