Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find all of the answers to our Frequently Asked Questions about Worlds of Fun's Festival of Music. Should you not find the answer(s) to what it is you are looking for, please send an email to festival@worldsoffun.com for further assistance.
• Every person entering Worlds of Fun will need to present an admission ticket or Season Passport to gain access to the Festival of Music and Worlds of Fun. This includes all students, directors, accompanists, chaperones, group members, family, and friends.
• The Festival of Music ticket ordering information will be posted on this website at least 2 months before the Festival starts. Contact festival@worldsoffun.com for more information.
• The Festival of Music Entry fee includes participation in the Festival of Music and one single day admission to Worlds of Fun.
• Additional Festival of Music tickets may be purchased at the Worlds of Fun Main Entrance on the day of your performance (subject to taxes).
• One complimentary admission ticket is issued with every 15 Festival of Music Entries purchased when full payment is received a minimum of 2 weeks prior to performance date.
• Complimentary tickets are not issued for orders received less than 2 weeks prior to performance date.
• Complimentary tickets will be issued on individual orders, not on a cumulative basis.
• Season Passports are honored for members of your group, but do not count toward your group size when purchasing tickets.
• No refunds or rain checks will be issued on pre-purchased admission tickets.
• Bus drivers will receive a complimentary admission with a minimum of 25 passengers per bus.
• Bus drivers receive their complimentary admission upon arrival at Guest Services by presenting parking voucher and CDL.
• If paying by check, please mail your detailed order with payment, a minimum of 14 days in advance, to Worlds of Fun, PO Box 931119, Atlanta, GA 31193-1119. Overnight Currier to Lockbox Services 931119, Worlds of Fun, 3585 Atlanta Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354-1705.
• Worlds of Fun cannot accept purchase orders or payment at the gate.
• Prices, hours, dates, and attraction availability are subject to change without notice. Park reserves the right to be closed to the public and Season Pass holders for private Events, capacity limitations, and other reasons. Certain attractions and/or Park facilities may be closed due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, maintenance, and/or other reasons.
• *Tax rate subject to change without notice.
• A $100 registration fee is due for each performing group. The registration fee is non-refundable/non-transferable and must be received prior to receiving a scheduled performance time.
• The $100 fee is for registration purposes only and does NOT apply to your ticket purchase.
• All members of your group, including students, directors, and accompanists are required to purchase a Festival of Music Entry a minimum of 14 days in advance. Chaperone, parents and families may also purchase the FOM ticket.
• While the music selection is at the discretion of the director, Worlds of Fun encourages directors to select music of high artistic merit.
• At the time of check-in, the director provides three sets of original scores, measures numbered consecutively.
• Photocopies are not permitted unless accompanied by written approval from the publisher. For additional information, please contact the Music Publishers Association - www.mpa.org.
• The original scores, as well as the adjudicators' written comments are picked up following the performance at the Festival of Music booth, located at the main entrance of the park. Please allow a minimum of 30 minutes for packets to be available for pick-up.
• Total scheduled performance time is 20 minutes in length; this includes a 10-minute clinic, with a nationally renowned adjudicator, following each performance.
• Festival of Music does not include grades 6th and under, swing, show, or jazz choirs.
• Ensembles perform a maximum of two (2) music selections for adjudication.
• Please plan to adhere to these guidelines. The Choirmaster reserves the right to lower your overall rating if you exceed time.
• Total performance time is 30 minutes in length, this includes a 10-minute clinic, with a nationally renowned adjudicator, following each performance.
• The total performance time includes entering and exiting the Tivoli Music Hall.
• The Festival of Music does not include grades 6th and under or jazz bands.
• Ensembles perform a maximum of two (2) music selections for adjudication.
• Please plan to adhere to these guidelines. The Bandmaster reserves the right to lower your overall rating if you exceed time.
• Groups are classified by school enrollment (official state count for enrollment on or after October 1, 2022).
• Performance Divisions:
• Senior High School
• At or Below 245 Students
• 246 - 750 Students
• 751 - 1000 Students
•1001 & More Students
• Non-Association* (see below)
• Senior High School
• At or Below 245 Students
• 246 - 750 Students
• 751 - 1000 Students
•1001 & More Students
• Non-Association* (see below)
*Non-Association Division participants are schools that are not a member of their State Activities Association. This Division is eligible for Honor Awards within its class, but not for Sweepstakes.
• Grades 6th & under may perform a non-adjudicated "Performance in the Park" on any day the park is open to the public. For more information please contact youthsales@worldsoffun.com
• Full Competition – division rating, comments and eligibility for trophy awards
• Comments Only – performance for adjudicators’ comments only
• Worlds of Fun provides an outdoor shelter as the warm-up facility. Included is a digital piano, electricity, and privacy during performance preparations.
• Choir shells and risers are not provided in the warm-up facility.
• No less than 30-minutes prior to your scheduled performance each group should report to the Festival of Music Check-In Booth (located outside and to the east of the main entrance) with all tickets distributed, group dressed and ready to warm-up.
• Each group is assigned a personal park escort to assist them throughout their festival experience.
• All groups are allotted 15-minutes in the warm-up facility. The policy is strictly enforced.
• All performing members, directors, and accompanists must wear appropriate performance attire. Acceptable dress includes formal uniforms, costumes, and concert attire.
• Worlds of Fun provides 2 10'x10' changing tents conveniently located in G parking lot. H lot is adjacent to the bus parking lot (F) .
Worlds of Fun provides the following equipment in the Performance Hall: grand piano, six sections of full-sized, three-step choral risers, choir shells, and director’s podium.
• Worlds of Fun provides an outdoor shelter as the warm-up facility. Included is electricity and limited music chairs/stands for performance preparations.
• Each school needs to provide their own means of transporting instruments. Percussion equipment is not provided in the warm-up facility.
• No less than 40-minutes prior to your scheduled performance, each group should report to the Festival of Music Check-In Booth (located outside and to the east of the main entrance) with all tickets distributed, group dressed and ready to warm up. Instrument cases will not be allowed in the park.
• Each group is assigned a personal park escort to assist them throughout their festival experience.
• All groups are allotted 25-minutes in the warm-up facility. This policy is strictly enforced.
• All performing members, directors, and accompanists must wear appropriate performance attire. Acceptable dress includes formal uniforms, costumes, and concert attire.
• Worlds of Fun provides 2 10'x10' changing tents conveniently located in G parking lot. H lot is adjacent to the bus parking lot (F)
• Worlds of Fun provides the following instruments and equipment in the Performance Hall:
• Bands - chairs, music stands, conductor’s podium, four tympani, concert bass drum, chimes, vibraphone, marimba, concert bells, concert toms, gong and xylophone (mallets are not provided)
• Orchestras - chairs, stands, conductor's podium, four tympani, concert bass drum, chimes, vibraphone, marimba, concert bells, and xylophone (mallets are not provided)
• We do not provide pianos or keyboards for Band/Orchestra Weekends
• The Festival of Music Adjudicators use the following standards for performance ratings. The division ratings are based on industry standards among like festivals.
• Rating I - Superior - This rating reflects the finest conceivable performance for the event and class of participants being evaluated. Performance is worthy of the distinction of being recognized as among the very best.
• Rating II - Excellent - This rating reflects an unusually high level of performance in many respects, but not worthy of the highest rating due to minor defects. Yet it is a performance of distinctive quality. The ensemble receiving this rating usually shows the result of sound, fundamental training, but the performance lacks the polish and finesse necessary to qualify for a division I rating.
• Rating III - Good - This rating is awarded for good performance, but one that is not outstanding. It shows accomplishment with marked promise and potential, but is lacking in one or more essential qualities. This rating indicates much room for improvement in many of the fundamental areas listed on the adjudicators' comment sheet.
• Rating IV - Fair - This rating describes a performance that shows obvious weaknesses. These may reflect handicaps in the way of instrumentation or lack of rehearsal time, but generally represents a performance that is weak or uncertain. There are numerous errors and the performance reveals basic weaknesses in most of the fundamental factors listed on the comment sheet.
• Rating V - Poor - This rating indicates a performance that reveals much room for improvement. The director should re-evaluate his/her methods, instrumentation, etc., with those of more mature individuals and organizations. Even the most critical judges rarely use this division. It indicates a performance in which the performers reveal almost a complete lack of preparedness and understanding. In some cases, this may be due to immature students attempting music which is far too advanced for them. In other words, it may be due to an accumulation of careless and poor playing habits which only tend to become accentuated and more noticeable as the player becomes older.
• The evaluation of each of the three adjudicators will count one third in determining the final rating.
• Each adjudicator will give ratings as follows: Rating I, Rating II, Rating III, Rating IV, and Rating V.
• The following points will be assigned to each adjudicator's rating to determine the final rating for each ensemble: Rating I - 1 point, Rating II - 2 points, Rating III - 3 points, Rating IV - 4 points, and Rating V - 5 points.
• The following scale will determine the final rating for each ensemble from the ratings given by the individual adjudicators:
• Rating I - 3 through 4 points
• Rating II - 5 through 7 points
• Rating III - 8 through 10 points
• Rating IV - 11 through 13 points
• Rating V - 14 through 15 points
• An Awards Ceremony is held in Tivoli Music Hall after the last performance of every weekend.
• Final performance dates are as followed:
• CHOIR: May 4
• BAND/ORCHESTRA: May 11 / May 18
• Awards must be picked up on the day of the awards ceremony. A packaging and shipping fee of $25 will be required for any awards that require shipping.
• Please plan to have a minimum of one representative from your school attend the Awards Ceremony.
• Each school that receives an Honor Award, that is not picked up during the Awards Ceremony, must make arrangements for pick-up with the Festival Coordinator. If you need to have your trophy shipped, there will be a shipping fee that must be paid prior to shipment.
• Each participating group receives a Certificate of Performance personally signed by each adjudicator and the Choirmaster or Bandmaster, recorded and written comments by each adjudicator, and a recorded copy of the performance.
• "I" rating plaques are awarded to each performing ensemble that achieves a “I” rating.
• A First and Second Place Honor Trophy is presented in each rated division. Each day performing ensembles compete with other ensembles within their division for the Honor Awards.
• If, in the opinion of the judges, performances within a division do not achieve a sufficient level of excellence, the Honor Awards may not be awarded.
• A Sweepstakes Trophy is awarded each Sunday to the best overall performance for that weekend.