Professional and Personal Perspectives of Ohio High School Choral Directors about Their Ensembles’ Participation in Large Group Adjudicated Events

This phenomenological study explored Ohio high school choral directors’ perspectives on participating or not participating in large group adjudicated events. Utilizing a phenomenological research method identified perspectives that have not been investigated or documented concerning the high school choral director’s professional and personal perspectives about their ensembles’ participation in the Ohio Music Education Association’s (OMEA) Large Group Adjudicated Events. This study posed a central research question that explored Ohio high school choral directors’ philosophies of music education, personal experience, and perceived pros and cons of participating or not participating in the Ohio Music Education Association’s Large Group Adjudicated Event. Participants included current, former, and retired Ohio high school choral directors. An open-ended protocol was used for the survey. The survey requested that the directors reflect on their decisions on participating or not participating in the OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event. Directors who participated had the opportunity to participate in a semistructured optional follow-up interview. Further implications from this study included improving the adjudication process in Ohio to encourage more directors to participate, providing information for pre-service teachers and new choral directors regarding participation in adjudicated events, and providing materials to prepare choral directors for sight-reading at the OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Events.