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Leesburg Performing Arts Commission picks six acts for Mistletoe Market, divides remaining $2,000 among them
Summary
The commission used a rubric to rank eight applicants, approved a six-act lineup and schedule for the Mistletoe Market, and voted to split the event's remaining $2,000 equally among the selected groups.
The Leesburg Performing Arts Commission voted to select six performers for the town's upcoming Mistletoe Market and to divide the event's remaining $2,000 equally among those groups.
Commissioners reviewed applications and scored them using a multi-category rubric. The highest-scoring applicants were ranked as follows: a wind-quartet/quintet entry (49.5 points), Loudoun Ballet (48.5), a noteworthy string trio (47), and a three-way cluster of applications scoring 45 points (Lori Blue, Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers, and Robert Fisher, who performs under the name Robert Song). Moon Music and the St. Teresa's children's choir scored lower on the panel's rubric. After discussion about set-up time, insurance and stage constraints, the commission approved a motion to invite the top six applicants to perform.
The commission set a six-act performance timetable for the event and assigned time slots to the selected performers: Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers at 11:00 a.m., a string group at 11:45 a.m., Loudoun Ballet at 12:30 p.m., the quintet at 1:15 p.m., Lori Blue at 2:00 p.m., and Robert Fisher at 2:45 p.m. Commissioners said the scheduling balances groups that need longer set-up or takedown with the event's overall time window and the Mistletoe Market schedule.
On compensation, commissioners voted to divide the remaining $2,000 allocated for performer fees equally among the six selected acts; that calculation produces roughly $165 per group. The commission noted the payment is contingent on final administrative steps, including consent-agenda approval by the town council and receipt of any required documentation from performers.
Commissioners discussed insurance and minors: groups without certificates of insurance can be considered, but those with minors will face additional procurement steps and may need waivers; that process varies with county and town procurement rules. The commission directed staff to notify the groups chosen and to contact the two applicants that were not selected with guidance and an invitation to reapply.
The commission also asked staff to send an informational email to the selected groups outlining performance times, the single available power outlet at the site, and expectations about set-up, takedown and any necessary adjustments. Council approval of the selections is expected on the consent agenda at the next council meeting; commissioners said the consent item will be finalized after they collect confirmations from the performers.
Votes at a glance - Motion to select the top six ranked applicants for the Mistletoe Market and invite them to perform (selection based on rubric scores): approved (vote recorded as 5-0-0-1). - Motion to assign the schedule (Cloggers 11:00; Strings 11:45; Ballet 12:30; Quintet 1:15; Lori Blue 2:00; Robert Fisher 2:45): approved (unanimous). - Motion to divide remaining $2,000 among the six selected groups equally (approximately $165 each): approved (vote recorded as 5-0-0-1).
What happened next Staff were directed to email the six selected groups and to prepare the commission's packet for the town council consent agenda. The commission said it will follow up with groups that lack insurance to explain waiver requirements and to suggest alternatives (smaller ensembles, battery power, or reapplication next year).
