Students are chosen by state wide audition on prepared solo literature, scales, and sight reading. Students selected for this honor represent the school in a televised concert each spring. Guest conductors from the best Colleges and Universities are brought in to conduct the best insturmental student musicians in Maine in this concert.

Students are chosen by state wide audition on prepared solo literature, rote, and sight singing. Students selected for this honor represent the school in a televised concert each spring. Guest conductors from the best Colleges and Universities are brought in to conduct the best choral student musicians in Maine in this concert.

Junior and Senior High School band and choral students are chosen by audition from schools in the Kennebec Valley Area. The audition includes a performance of a selected solo, scales, rote singing, sight reading, or sight singing. These students are led by local college and university directors in a concert the first weekend in February each year.

Both junior band and choral students are chosen by director reccommendation by the festival managers. The festival is directed by local directors and hosted by local schools.

Winslow hosts the State Large Group Festival at Winslow High School. Each ensemble is rated by professional musicians of college music directors.