During the academic year of 1955-56, then fine arts supervisor Delmar Graff established the first county Solo and Ensemble Festival for high school music students in Medina County. The event was free-standing from the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) adjudicated events and was held at various schools in Medina County during the winter and spring months.
The perceived goal of these events was to afford music students the opportunity to perform solo and/or ensemble events for qualified music adjudicators. Adjudicators were often chosen from music teachers and directors from the Northeast Ohio area.
The Solo and Ensemble Festival continues to this day, having been cancelled due to weather conditions only a few times during its tenure. There have been some evolutionary changes in the Solo and Ensemble Festival during the last 55-plus years.
- Expanding the students served to reach down to upper elementary;
- Revising the adjudication form to more closely align with the Ohio Plan established by OMEA;
- Using almost all OMEA-approved adjudicators;
- Adding elementary bands and choirs to the approved adjudication event available;
- Using electronic sound reproduction means for accompaniment; and
- Encouraging adjudicators to take time to talk with every student adjudicated.