For over 30 years, Forum Music Festivals has hosted adjudicated music festivals throughout California. Founded by long-time music educators who understood specifically what teachers needed, our focus blends nationally accepted music standards with encouragement for student musicians and support for their directors. Forum Music Festivals offers a fun, educational experience for student musicians at every level. We have welcomed tens of thousands of students and their directors over the last three decades and look forward to collaborating with YOU this year. Forum Festivals offers an exceptional quality festival at an excellent value for both all-in-one-day and overnight student groups. Our flexible schedules and wide selection of attraction options mean we have an option to fit everyone. Your time is valuable. We know that you have many choices. We want your experience with Forum Festivals to exceed your expectations. We’re dedicated to creating an amazing performing experience for your ensemble. Here’s to many more years of making great music together!
Our one-day festival packages are customizable and budget-friendly, so all schools and ensembles can participate in a festival. Every One-Day Forum Festival includes:
Festival dates and prices are posted on our website at https://www.forummusicfestivals.com/. Visit our Festival Registration page or call us directly at 1-888-76-FORUM to register for a one-day package.
Our custom overnight packages are designed to reflect your tour goals and interests. We are committed to setting up an unforgettable trip for you! Every Overnight Package includes: All inclusions listed for one-day packages above PLUS:
Contact us today by phone or website for a no-obligation proposal before registering. To register, visit our Festival Registration page or call us directly at 1-888-76-FORUM.
Our one-day and overnight packages can be fully customized. Select from these activities, or we can suggest other options. Perform on a date that best fits your school calendar, and attractions may be visited on any date. Contact us for pricing and availability. Anaheim/Los Angeles Area:
San Francisco Area:
San Diego Area:
YES! We have many different suggestions for groups to perform outside of the Festival, including theme park performances and workshops as well as public performances in well-trafficked venues. We can also book private clinics with area clinicians. Private clinics typically range from $300-$750 pending availability and timeframe – we can even send someone to your school prior to your festival if you like. Contact us directly to explore ideas!
You’ll find the latest information on our website. Festival dates, one-day pricing, and answers to the most commonly asked questions can be found at www.forummusicfestivals.com. Request a Quote for an overnight trip or customized one-day package. Additional helpful information is posted on our website as needed. Of course, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone (1-888-763-6786) or email office@forummusicfestivals.com anytime.
We'd love to keep you posted on everything happening with Forum Music Festivals! Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter on our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Don't forget to tag us using @forummusicfestivals and #2027FMF and #ForumMusicFestivals and post your favorite Festival photos directly to our pages! Fun and valuable promotions are offered via our e-newsletter and Facebook/Instagram posts—don’t miss out on the latest promo for your upcoming trips.
Your day starts with a warm welcome at the check-in desk after you arrive at the performance venue. Plan to arrange your own transportation or Forum can take care of bus arrangements for you. Contact us early for the best rates and availability for charter buses. Bus and private car parking is available at the venue – check your performance schedule for specifics. Turn in your original conductor’s scores (2 at standard festivals, 3 at Judges’ Invitational) for the adjudicators and ask any questions you may have about the festival or your attraction visit. A runner will guide your group to the warm-up room, then onstage for performance. The stage is pre-set according to your instructions on your set-up sheets. Return set-up sheets at least 30 days in advance so we are well prepared for your arrival. Our announcer will introduce your group. Plan 2-3 pieces, approximately 12 to 15 minutes of music. Two adjudicators will assess your ensemble’s performance and provide recorded and written feedback. An added benefit of the festival is learning from other ensembles. You are encouraged to arrive early or stay late to enjoy & support other festival performers. Topping off the festival is an exciting Awards Ceremony held at the venue – typically one late morning and a final awards ceremony right before the end of the festival. Your students won’t want to miss it! Before you leave the festival, stop by the front desk for your scores and theme park tickets (as needed). Judges’ recordings will be emailed to you within 48 hours. You’ll also receive a recording of your festival performance. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Performing in a suitable venue enhances your performance. Festivals are held at well-equipped venues with lighting & sound systems - many are college theatres or recital halls. Separate warm-up rooms are available with limited equipment. Directors and chaperones are responsible for all personal belongings including bags, instruments and cases, and other equipment. Please ensure an adult is always left with belongings. Forum staff are unable to monitor belongings.
Informal attire is fine since many groups enjoy an activity after the festival. Many groups wear concert attire, but it’s not a factor in judging. No dressing rooms are provided at the venue. Please plan to change before you arrive at the venue or after you depart from the festival.
No, but please select literature that showcases your ensemble’s strengths. Adjudicators cite the most common error they see is music that’s too challenging for the group. Performing difficult music poorly doesn’t impress judges.
Yes, bring original scores for the judges (2 for standard festivals, 3 for Judges’ Invitational). Photocopied scores are unacceptable unless accompanied by a publisher’s letter. Purchased E-print scores are of course acceptable.
Choral ensembles have 20 minutes on stage; instrumental groups have 25 minutes. This includes taking the stage, introductions, pausing between selections, and exiting. Plan on 12 to 15 minutes of music, typically about 2 to 3 pieces per ensemble.
We provide the following equipment at our festivals:
Other equipment may be available at individual venues. Please ask if you need anything other than what is listed above. Drum sets and amps may be available to rent. No snares, cymbals or small percussion are available. Our stage set up form for your specific venue is emailed with your performance schedule. Submit the completed form to us at least 3 weeks prior to the festival. Our stage crew will position your set-up for your performance!
Performances are scheduled approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to the festival. Directors receive their performance schedule by email. Directors must inform Forum Festivals 90 days prior to the festival of any transportation limitations or other concerns that influence your arrival at the festival. We suggest groups plan for an 8 AM arrival and 2 PM departure with their transportation provider and then adjust once the performance schedule is released. Please note – you should plan for about 1 hour of time at the festival for each performing ensemble (i.e. 4 ensembles, 4 hours of festival time minimum). Of course, we encourage groups to arrive early and stay late to watch other performances! A cancellation fee will be assessed for any performing ensemble pulled from the festival after the schedule is distributed. All director names and ensemble names listed on the performance schedule will be used for programs and trophies – please update Forum immediately if any changes need to be made. Once trophies or programs go to print, changes may not be possible or may incur a change fee.
Yes! Several times each season, we will host evening festivals from approximately 4-9pm in the Anaheim are. This is a great option for groups traveling by bus from out of the area to reduce the number of nights on the road - participate in the festival and spend the entire next day at the attraction of your choice. Check our Festival Dates and Pricing page for specific date options for evening festivals.
Forum Music Festivals’ non-competitive, rated format means that directors choose to perform for either a rating (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Merit) OR a “comments only” non-rated award—Excellence in Performance. All groups receive a plaque at the Awards Ceremony as well as adjudicators' comments. Groups are NOT ranked. Because our adjudicators hear many groups throughout the year, you may evaluate your group’s rating with groups of similar grade levels from across the country. You may access sample adjudication forms for your reference and review with your students in advance here.
Your students deserve a great awards ceremony! Our Award Ceremony celebrates your students' hard work and supports other performers. Awards typically last 15 minutes. Each ensemble receives a plaque plus an outstanding musicianship plaque to one student or section from each ensemble. Awards are held at the festival venue. It’s fun, positive, and motivational. Your group may enjoy the remainder of the day with no interruption to your afternoon or evening.
Yes! We collaborate with fabulous accompanists throughout the state and are happy to make arrangements for you. Rates for accompanists will vary pending total number of ensembles performing and number of pieces to perform. Contact Forum for a specific quote.
Preparing for a festival performance is a fabulous time to review basic etiquette for young musicians— both as performers AND audience members. Explain to your students that everyone has worked extremely hard to get to this event. A good festival participant…
Suggested Festival Etiquette for Directors Good concert/festival behavior is learned, and it is the director’s responsibility to teach it. A good teacher of festival etiquette…
Your Trip Assistant is a convenient and completely customized alert system for directors! This complimentary automated text messaging system allows Forum Festivals to text reminders to you throughout your trip. No need for an onsite tour escort - receive reminders via text before your first warm-up time, prompting upcoming bus loading, theatre or concert start times, restaurant reservations and addresses, and more! Directors may opt out of Your Trip Assistant. Text messages apply only to your trip. Standard text messaging rates may apply – contact your carrier for details.
One-day participants receive physical theme park tickets at the front desk of the festival OR emailed in advance, not at the theme park. Some attractions require will-call ticket pick up. Any exceptions will be directly communicated with the director. Directors may add or subtract tickets as needed for most attractions. No tickets are accepted for refund after the festival. Finalize your participant count 3 weeks in advance. Student tickets may be returned prior to the festival for some attractions, but a credit or refund is only permitted for the ticket cost itself. No refunds for the festival portion are offered when changes are made within 10 days of the festival. Some attraction tickets for family members may be purchased with cash or credit card at the front desk, (see Digital Ticketing Policy for more details). Family members may watch performances at no fee. For groups going to the Disneyland Resort, your tickets were pre-ordered & are not eligible for return or refund, according to Disney policy. Please reference the digital ticket policy for many of our most popular attractions for specifics. Overnight directors receive all tickets in a packet shipped one week prior to the festival OR via email. Please complete your emailed confirmation or mail the confirmation form back to us before the trip so tickets will be activated.
Students with annual passes should double check for any possible “black-out days.” A “festival only” fee is charged for students with an annual pass (up to 20% of the overall participant count), who may then use their passes for admission to the park after the festival. “Festival only” is only available to up to 20% of your group who have valid annual passes. Students may not just “opt out” of the attraction portion of the event. All festivals must be paired with an attraction. Other exceptions for pass usage may apply depending on the theme park or specific festival. Please reach out to Forum for specific information based on your festival date and attraction of choice.
Each individual festival venue, theme park and attraction have their own parking specifications. Please watch your performance schedule letter (emailed to you 4-6 weeks in advance) for specifics for your venues. Bus parking and private car parking will be explained in detail here. Please be prepared with cash or card for potential parking fees. Parking fees and tolls are the responsibility of the group. Unless previously arranged with Forum Music Festivals, all fees must be paid directly to the venue. If arranging your own transportation, please check with your provider as some may have special agreements with the venue for reduced or free admission.
For overnight groups or groups with custom one-day packages, most gratuities are included in your package pricing. However, we typically leave gratuity for private tour guides, etc. up to the discretion of the group. Forum will inform you when gratuity is included and when it is up to your discretion. If you prefer to modify any standard gratuity that we include or have additional questions on what is included in your package and suggested gratuity amounts, please contact Forum.
YES! Forum Music Festivals offers one student scholarship for returning schools or directors for each consecutive year of participation up to five years or 10% off total student balance, whichever is less. Forum offers a robust scholarship program, providing over $100,000 each year to participating groups to help ensure accessibility to festival performances. Please note – Forum does not have a minimum participant requirement – all group sizes are welcome to perform at all standard festivals. However, to receive scholarship funds, groups must have a minimum of 15 student participants. Scholarships apply to one-day and overnight packages (hotel, festival, breakfast, theme park) and are available to school groups that book directly with Forum Music Festivals, not through outside tour operators or travel planners. Please contact Forum with any questions on your scholarship eligibility.
YES! Hotel accommodations are reserved at hotels near your activities. When selecting a hotel for your group, safety and security are of the highest importance. Groups are only lodged at quality hotels with interior corridors. Rooms are requested on the second floor or higher. We do not book student groups in rooms with outdoor access. Our relationship with hotels helps keep your trip within budget. Any specific requests you provide to us are shared with the hotel. Check out our overnight options and request a custom quote today.
Our relationship with reputable bus companies yields competitive rates and you save money! Upon request, we’ll provide a no-obligation quote based on your itinerary. Here’s a couple of tips:
Yes! You will need to make transportation arrangements unless Forum is managing this for you. Festivals are held off-site from attractions and are typically within 20 minutes from the hotel (if we are arranging your overnight package). Attraction distances will vary based on region and festival venue. Ask about hotel shuttles, public transportation or more options.
Yes, we can book a hotel room for your drivers whether or not we have arranged your charter bus transportation for an overnight trip. Driver’s rooms must be on the rooming list. Most charter bus companies require a paid day sleeping room for each driver if the group requires transportation at night or over 14 hours in one day. Charges for bus driver’s rooms vary. This information will be listed on your estimate - no surprises!
Additional theme parks or attraction partners may transition to digital tickets at any time—Forum will work to keep you informed of all check-in procedures as needed.
If you are including a Disneyland® Resort visit with your festival or tour, please read the following important information. These details are subject to change at the discretion of the Disneyland Resort without notice. Tickets for all Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure Park visitors require pre-arrival purchase and registration 60 days in advance.
Park Hopper Policy:
For Disney Magic Keyholders in your group:
Payment Schedule Change:
Refund Details:
Photography/Videography at the Disneyland Resort:
Disclosures to Groups: Please be advised prior to purchase of any Ticket or other Disney Product that:
Universal Studios has transitioned to digital theme park tickets. Tickets will be accessible via your mobile device with QR codes. Universal Studios will no longer be printing paper tickets.
Knott’s Berry Farm, California’s Great America, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom have transitioned to digital theme park tickets. Tickets will be accessible via your mobile device with QR codes. These four parks will no longer be printing paper tickets.
Knott’s Berry Farm Chaperone Policy
California’s Great America Chaperone Policy
Six Flags Magic Mountain Chaperone Policy
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Chaperone Policy
Please review the following information about dining options at each park – Forum can add meal vouchers for your group with a 10% handling fee. Knott’s Berry Farm California’s Great America Six Flags Magic Mountain Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
SeaWorld San Diego provides paper ticket for our student groups.
San Diego Zoo & Safari Park provide paper ticket for our student groups.
NOTE: San Diego Zoo & Safari Park require 1 chaperone for every 6 students. Please plan your student and chaperone counts appropriately as you may be turned away without the appropriate chaperone ratio.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk provides paper tickets for our student groups.
Our Judges’ Invitational is an annual event where gold-rated ensembles from previous festival seasons are invited to compete in this exciting event with an evening award ceremony to celebrate your accomplishments! This event is by invitation only – if your group is eligible, you will receive an invitation during the summer. Competition regulations are available with your invitation. Please reach out to us with specific questions.
We are thrilled to introduce our Guitar Select Festival during our 2027 festival season! This Forum Music Festival will be exclusively for student guitar ensembles and feature a mini masterclass from a local guitar specialist. Any guitar ensembles are welcome to attend this special event.
Several times each season, we will host evening festivals from approximately 4-9 PM in the Anaheim area. This is a great option for groups traveling by bus from out of the area to reduce the number of nights on the road – participate in the festival and spend the entire next day at the attraction of your choice. Check our Festival Dates and Pricing page for specific date options for evening festivals.
Stay tuned for more information on this new opportunity for aspiring young composers – Forum is preparing for a youth competition. More details to be shared as we make arrangements.
Calculating trip costs should include lodging, meals, transportation, & activities. If you have a specific budget, let us know right away. We’ll sketch out an itinerary to fit your group’s interests & budget.
Breakfast is included on all Forum Music Festival overnight trips. Theme Park or restaurant meal vouchers may be added as well as group meals at student-friendly restaurants or meal delivery.
Our itineraries are so thorough, you won’t need a tour escort. However, a tour escort may ensure a seamless and worry-free trip for you! A tour escort can meet your group to manage itinerary details, as your budget allows. Let us know if you would like to build in the cost of a tour escort.
Many groups recruit chaperones based on a 1 per 10 ratio. Check your district guidelines to verify requirements for chaperones, i.e. background checks, fingerprinting, etc. Some attractions require specific ratios for chaperones – please review the Digital Ticketing Policies for specifics. Forum requires each group to be chaperoned by at least 1 male and 1 female adult to comply with our insurance’s No One-On-One Chaperone policy and Gender-Accompaniment policy. Groups must ensure there will never be a one-on-one situation with a chaperone and student – chaperones should always be accompanied by at least 2 students or another chaperone if departing from the group. As you select chaperones, be specific about your expectations before the trip. Although the trip is enjoyable, their job is to supervise students. Responsibilities can include bus counts, room checks, managing equipment, supervising behavior, or enforcing curfews. Chaperones often manage a pre-set student group.
We do ask for a liability release to be signed by the director or an administrator upon registration for your overnight trip to ensure all parties understand the trip that is being agreed to. A Forum team member will send this to you via email. Please reach out with questions. ALL participants (students, chaperones, and directors) will be required to sign a participant release agreement 30 days prior to your trip. These can be completed using the online GroupCollect portal or distributed as a PDF to students from the director. Our team will help keep track of completed forms.
Students usually stay 4 or 5 to a room. Chaperones usually stay 2 to a room. Packages include a complimentary room for each director. Pricing listed on your itinerary is a per person price based on quad (4/room) or quint (5/suite), triple, double, or single occupancy package with lodging, breakfast, & activities. Your final invoice and charges will be based on the final breakdown of quint, quad, triple, double and single occupancy rooms. Groups should expect changs to final estimate once the rooming list is confirmed.
Your group’s room block is based on your rooming list. Chaperone rooms are blocked between student rooms. Directors often request boys’ and girls’ rooms be on different floors. We’ll communicate your requests to the hotel.
After registering, you’ll receive access to your online portal through GroupCollect with your due date indicated. Complete your assignments for all travelers through this portal (students, adults, drivers) OR send a document to Forum to assist. We need your rooming list at least 75 days prior to your trip. Certain hotels require earlier due dates, but our staff will advise you if this applies to your trip.
Changes occur in student travel, so we’re as flexible as possible. Additions are allowed through Forum, based on hotel availability. After submitting your rooming list, you may change the rooming list one time at no additional fee. After that, a charge for each subsequent revision applies. No changes to the rooming list are allowed after the 30-day deadline. Please see our cancellation policy for more details.
Absolutely! We arrange everything from theatre, symphony tickets to bowling parties, museums, sightseeing tours, clinics, workshops, and everything in between.
Yes! Forum has collaborated with GroupCollect to provide a user-friendly portal for individual payments. Groups may still opt for bulk invoices and payments as outlined below but if directors prefer to have students pay individually, we will set this up for you using GroupCollect. Convenience fees will apply for use of this system. Contact Forum for specifics and to make a plan that works well for your group!
All staff and independent contracts will be required to complete a background check prior to interacting with any students. Forum has partnered with Praesidium Inc. to process our background checks. Individuals will receive an e-document to provide consent and the personal information required to run the background check. Background checks will be run every two years.
If at any time a student, chaperone, staff member, or independent contract feels harassed in any form, they may confidentially report this to office@forummusicfestivals.com and Forum will investigate.
Federal Regulations mandate that…
California regulations mandate that…
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at office@forummusicfestivals.com.
Forum Music Festivals will reserve a spot in the performance schedule based on receipt of registration fees. All fees must be paid in full before the festival. Delinquent schools will be removed from schedule. Pay by credit card on our website or submit a check to Forum Music Festivals. Confirm with your school, district, and/or booster club for specific payment processes (vendor approval, invoice processing time, payment method, etc.). Payment must be received by the due date listed on each invoice unless otherwise approved through Forum. Late fees may be assessed on outstanding balances at the rate of 1.5% per month (10% annum) as allowed by California law.
Payments after the registration fee (due 2 weeks after registration) are divided into two due dates: 60 days prior to festival and 30 days prior to festival. If you prefer to have an alternative payment schedule, please contact cristin@forummusicfestivals.com. We are happy to work with you. Directors should update student and chaperone numbers no later than 10 days prior to the festival. New invoices will not be issued after that time. *Please see Disneyland Resort Ticket Policy and Digital Ticket Policy for packages that include Disney, Universal, Knott’s or Great America tickets
Payment schedules can sometimes be customized to meet the needs of your fundraising activities. 30 Days after Registration –
90 Days before First Date of Travel –
60 Days before First Date of Travel –
30 Days before First Date of Travel –
Registration after 90 days: Late registrations after 90 days prior to your festival are welcome, space permitting. All payment due dates will be adjusted accordingly. Payment Details: The registration fee does not apply toward trip balances. Invoices will be emailed to the director prior to each due date. Notify Forum Music Festivals of changes in student numbers, travel date, or rooming list changes. Forum Music Festivals accepts district purchase orders, but all invoices must be paid in full prior to the trip. Students with theme park passes are charged a “festival only” fee for performing in the festival (up to 20% of total student count). All festival participation must be paired with an attraction.
Forum Music Festivals highly encourages participants to purchase travel insurance. We offer travel protection as a separate add-on for individuals to purchase at their discretion through TravMark. You will share this Activity Coverage link with your students/parents and they can individually decide whether they want to add protection or not to their trip. For any questions regarding the policy, please contact TravMark toll free at 1-877-500-1556 or email them at info@travmark.com. Student pricing on Activity Insurance for California residents is competitively priced with available Cancel For Any Reason (when conditions are met, including insuring 75% of all trip costs), please use the Activity Insurance link to confirm pricing. Activity Insurance allows you to cancel your Program for any reason provided you purchase this plan within 21 days of the date your initial payment or deposit for your program is received and you cancel your program up to 2 (two) days before your scheduled Departure Date of your program. Additional travel protection options may become available at any time. Please contact Forum for the most up-to-date recommendations. Our cancellation policy will remain in effect but travel insurance may protect your investment outside these parameters.
Registration is simple...
Complete your registration and your ensemble has a tentative spot in the festival line-up. A $120 non-refundable registration fee confirms the date for one or two performing groups. Additional ensembles over two from the same director are registered on a space-available basis at a $120 registration fee for each ensemble. Entries are scheduled on a first come basis upon receipt of the registration fee. Remember—registration is confirmed once registration fees are paid. Schools attending on two different dates are required to register for each date and the registration fee is required for both dates. At the time of registration, please note any information that will affect your arrival at the festival.
Registration fees are non-refundable. Theatre tickets are non-refundable. Bus deposits, hotel deposits, and some activities or meal vouchers may not be refundable. Please contact Forum directly for non-refundable specifics of your package. Cancellation requests, signed by a school official (director, principal, district personnel, etc.), must be emailed or mailed to our office. The postmarked date on mail or the time reflected on the email will be used as the cancellation date. Please allow 60 days after the festival for refunds. Refunds may be returned via check or held on your account for use at future festivals. Festival registration fees for both one-day and overnight packages are considered non-refundable and do not apply towards festival balances.
Color Guard/Auxiliary Sample Form Concert Band/Wind Ensemble Sample Form Concert Choir/Chamber Choir Sample Form Dance Sample Form Guitar Ensemble Sample Form Handbells Sample Form Jazz Ensemble Sample Form Mariachi Sample Form Orchestra Sample Form Percussion Ensemble Sample Form Show Choir Sample Form Jazz Choir Sample Form