OPS
The ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series
is a program designed to select annually the most outstanding
Class 1C, 2C/3C, 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A concert band programs
in the state of Texas each year.
For all correspondence with the OPS State Chair, Collin Anderson,
please use the following email address and phone number:
opsstatechair@atssb.org.
903-390-3271
2024 Outstanding Performance Series Winners
You can find the winners’ recordings by searching for
“Association of Texas Small School Bands – Outstanding Performance Series 2024,”
or you can find them via these links:
YouTube
Pandora
Apple Music
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Any Class 1C or Class 2C/3C middle school band or non-varsity band that feeds a 1A, 2A, 3A or 4A high school band,
and any Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A, or Class 4A high school band or non-varsity band
may enter the Outstanding Performance Series (OPS)
provided the head band director of the ensemble entering is a current member of ATSSB.
Entry selections must have been recorded at a UIL contest or at any other approved contest during the period
from January 1 through the date of the posted deadline of the current school year.
No editing of the audio selections may be made, other than assuring
there is no introduction with the school name able to be heard and no applause at the end.
Only UIL-approved concert selections may be entered.
If two concert selections are entered, one selection must be from the pertinent UIL grade level or higher.
If only one concert selected is entered, it must be no lower than one grade level below
the pertinent UIL grade level of the entering school.
Verification of UIL approval to perform any selection not listed in the current UIL Prescribed Music List
must accompany any such entry.
A director may choose to change pieces post-UIL, but the UIL grade level criteria must still be met
and the recording must be at an approved festival.
Each selection entered must be uploaded as a separate digital .WAV file to the link below.
The OPS Verification Form and an invoice will automatically be generated upon completing the online entry.
The Verification Form must be signed by the director and the school Principal or Superintendent,
and mailed to Kenneth Griffin.
If one or more of the entries is chosen as an OPS Winner or Runner-up,
the award will presented to the director, not to the school.
Every director whose ensemble is entered in the competition
must be a current member of ATSSB, including non-varsity ensemble directors.
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For the 2025 OPS competition:
Entry deadline: MAY 24 (11:59 pm)
for all components of the entry process.
Region adjudication and advancement to Area will be certified by 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 7.
Area adjudication and advancement to State will be certified by 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 21.
State adjudication will be the morning of Thursday, July 24, at the TBA convention in San Antonio.
Continuing in 2025:
The ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series will run two pilot contests,
one for middle school non-varsity bands and the other for high school non-varsity bands.
All 1C-3C NV bands will compete in the MS category and all 1A-4A NV bands will compete in the HS category.
Non-varsity status will be determined according to rules and regulations as set forth
in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, whether the school competes in UIL or another entity.
The primary performing ensemble for any school is deemed the varsity band, and any subsequent groups
will be allowed to compete in the NV category, whether a non-varsity group or a sub-non-varsity group.
If any group has attained the Varsity Waiver according to the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules,
that ensemble may enter the NV category.
If any group’s varsity/non-varsity status is in question, the OPS State Chair and the Steering Committee will review the issue
and make the final decision regarding placement into the proper competition category.
Any school’s non-varsity ensemble has the right to enter the regular classification category
as in the past and not compete in the NV pilot.
In addition, a school’s non-varsity may enter OPS even if the same school’s varsity group does not submit recordings.
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ENTRY PROCESS:
Please read all instructions carefully, here and inside the entry portal.
1. Select the link below to begin your entry:
ONLINE ENTRY PORTAL
is not open yet, as we are still working through final changes in the new entry process – check back soon!
When entering information in the portal:
– Immediately, the portal will require you to log in with your TMEA log in.
OPS Entry page
– Click the ‘Start/Complete the OPS Entry Process’ button at the top of the page.
– Be sure to complete ALL *Required fields in the Campus Information section.
– When entering dates you MUST enter dates in the format shown in the entry field: ##/##/####
otherwise, there you will get an error message. i.e. 03/15/2025
*** IT IS POSSIBLE to have more than one entry, whether purposeful or mistakenly,
therefore, the LATEST entry will be the one that is used.
MY OPS Entries page
– On this page you can ‘Manage Entry’ or ‘Edit Entry‘
– The ‘Edit Entry’ link allows you to change any information previously entered if necessary.
– The ‘Manage Entry’ link proceeds to the next steps of the process
– If multiple entries have been made, they are in order chronologically from top to bottom.
OPS Entry Detail page
– Verify all information is correct.
– There is a link at the top and bottom of the page labelled ‘Edit Selections’ which is the link
to use to upload your audio files.
– There is a section at the bottom of the page labelled ‘Entry Form’;
use the links here to download your official entry form and then, after securing signatures,
to upload the form into the portal.
OPS Selection Submission page
– This page offers an area to WITHDRAW your OPS entry
if you so choose to not complete the process.
– Enter the Title, Composer, Publisher, and Site for the piece(s) that is(are) to be uploaded.
– Once completed, hitting the ‘Submit’ button returns to the OPS Entry Detail page and
now allows you to upload your .WAV files in the ‘Upload your recordings’ section.
– Be certain that the audio file is the CORRECT piece and that it is in .WAV format.
– As is indicated in the ‘Upload your recording’ section,
You can only upload your files once!
– Clicking on the ‘Upload Recording’ link takes you to the next page
to actually upload the audio file.
OPS File Upload page
– Be sure to follow the instructions and make sure the audio file is being uploaded
from your computer’s hard drive and not straight from a CD.
– BE PATIENT! The upload takes a bit of time to finish.
There is no indicator to show upload progress.
– Once the upload is complete, a new page will pop up with a link
‘Return to the Entry Details Page’.
– Repeat the process for each of you pieces you choose to upload.
– The system allows you to listen to each file before completing the entry so that you can
make sure the full piece has uploaded correctly.
Upon returning to the OPS Entry Detail page
– A link is provided next to the Region Contest Information section, on the right-hand side,
to print your invoice for your business office and to upload with your entry documents.
Once you have input all the information requested, uploaded the audio files
and the signed official entry form…
2. Provide payment.
– Request a school check and mail to
OPS 2025
2117 Morse Street
Houston, TX 77019.
You may also choose to upload a copy of the OFFICIAL school Purchase Order,
should you feel that your check will not reach Kenneth prior to the entry deadline.
Check requisitions/requests are NOT an acceptable proof of payment,
as Kenneth cannot bill from a check request should payment not arrive.
Use this LINK to UPLOAD POs (link is now closed)
– OR PREFFERED Pay online via PAYPAL.
Use this LINK to PAY ONLINE (link is now closed)
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Completed OPS Entries
Check here after your signed Verification Form has been uploaded and your payment method completed.
Please give up to a week for receiving and processing.
2025 OPS Judging Matrix
OPS Results
https://www.atssb.org/ops/opsresults/
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Approved Non-UIL Festivals
(a list of non-UIL contests that have already been approved)
Non-UIL Approval Form
(use to request that a festival or contest be approved)
Upload Non-UIL Approval Form HERE
For OPS Adjudication – files and forms needed by Region and Area Coordinators.
OPS Judges Forms
(Forms 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B used for adjudication)
Reimbursement Request
(for expenses incurred by Designated Region, Area and State Level Adjudications)
Duties of the Designated Region Coordinator
Duties of the Designated Area Coordinator
2024 OPS Handbook (this is a large file)