PO Box 550, Jannali, NSW 2226
Phone: +61 (2) 8501 2526
Email: [email protected]
www.bandnsw.com
ABN: 40 507 297 766
2017 NSW State Band Championships
Entries for the NSW State Band Championships, to be held on the weekend of 26th/27th August at the Home of
the State Band Championships, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, High Street, Penrith are NOW OPEN.
In response to the overwhelming growing success of the Junior C Concert and feedback we have received from numerous
school band trainers who currently do not participate in the State Band Championships, we have added a new grade to
our Junior Wind Band sections for the NSW State Band Championships: Junior D Grade Concert.
This new grade is aimed at bands playing music graded 1.5-2.5.
Junior D Grade has a Hymn/Sacred Item set as the test which must be included as part of a program of music which
should not exceed a total of 15 minutes playing where the standard of any works chosen for inclusion should be of grade
1.5-2.5.
The State Championships will now better cater for the full range of band levels and will allow for an easier determination
of which grade your junior band falls into:
Junior A Grade = 4.5 +
Junior B Grade = 3.5 - 4.5
Junior C Grade = 2.5 - 3.5
Junior D Grade = 1.5 - 2.5
To assist our bands with planning for the weekend and so that we can get the schedule and timetable out to you as
early as possible, the closing date for entries is Friday 30th June 2017. Please ensure that you are fully aware of this
closing date. Regular reminders will be sent by email, website and Facebook.
Competition Entry
Entry to the NSW State Band Championships is made by completing the online entry form and payment of entry
fees. The link to complete the entry form is located on the Contest page of our website – www.bandnsw.com
Entry fees are:
Open Grades $150.00
Junior & U13 Grades $90.00
Non-Championship Event $50.00
Payment of entry fees or a request for an invoice must accompany all entries. All entry fees MUST be paid before
the start date of the Championships or your band may not be allowed to perform.
Entry fees may be paid by direct deposit to account number 03896-4016, BSB 082-367 in the name of Band
Association of NSW Inc. at National Australia Bank, Miranda. Please ensure your Band name is recorded and advise
the Contest Administrator once payment has been made. Cheques should be made payable to Band Association of
NSW Inc.
As of the 31st March 2016, all bands competing at the Championships which are wholly made up of members under
19yrs old or where the Band is known as a Junior Band are required under NSW State Government Legislation to
have a current WWCC for their Conductor and appropriate supervisors. The appropriate contact person should be
included when completing the entry form.
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Audience Admission
Audience Admission fees to the Championships will be as follows:
Day Pass $15
Concession Day Pass $10
2 Day Pass $25
2 Day Pass Concession $15
Programs $5
Admission for Band members as Audience is free providing Band Members are in
their full Band uniform.
Please note: We are now able to accept debit/credit card payments for admission passes
through Paypal.
Parking around the venue:
There are a number of carparks around the venue. Please be aware that should you choose to park in Westfield,
this may attract a parking fee depending on how long you stay at the Championships. There is free parking
available in the council carpark next to the venue but this is timed at 1 to 2 hours on Saturday only. Other free
untimed car parks in the area that are: Union Road - bounded by Worth St & Station St, and, further down on Union
Rd towards Mulgoa Rd.
Draft Contest Schedule
PLEASE NOTE: ONLY THE DAY ON WHICH THESE EVENTS WILL BE HELD IS INDICATED. FULL ORDER OF EVENTS,
TIMETABLE AND HALLS WILL BE ADVISED ONCE ENTRIES HAVE CLOSED AND SCHEDULING CAN BE COMPLETED.
Saturday – Richard Bonynge Concert Hall
All Open Concert Grades (A, B, C & D)
Evening – Open Brass and Concert Champion of Champions (Malcolm Boland foyer)
Saturday – Q Theatre
All Junior Brass Grades (one sitting)
Open A & B Grade Brass (two sittings)
Sunday – Richard Bonynge Concert Hall
All Junior Concert Grades (A,B,C & D)
Sunday – Q Theatre
Non-Championship Event
Under 13/Primary School Band
Open C & D Grade Brass (one sitting)
Under 13/Primary School Events
Under 13/Primary School Brass/Concert band events may be held in three divisions depending on the number of
entries received.
1
2
3
Division 1 for bands playing music Grade 3 (or higher),
Division 2 for bands playing music Grade 2 to 2.5, and
Division 3 for bands playing music Grade 1 to 1.5
Bands wishing to enter Under 13 events should nominate the Division in which they wish to enter.
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A review of all entries will be made and if required, a member of the Grading Sub-committee may attend a
rehearsal or other performance to validate your division entry.
Non-Championship Event
The Non-Championship event is designed to provide Bands who would like to participate in the NSW State Band
Championships but, either may not feel that the band is up to competing at a ‘Championship’ level, or may not be
wholly comfortable with the pressures of the “Competition” aspect of the Championships.
These events give bands the opportunity to perform a 20 min Concert Program of their choosing in either a School
Division or an Open Division. Points are not awarded but the adjudicator is asked to provide each band with a
constructive adjudication (similar to that given in a Championship event). Each band entered is presented with a
‘Commended’ or ‘Highly Commended’ Certificate.
The Non-Championships events are run as close to a Championship event as possible and the registration
components of the Association By-Laws and conditions of entry (separate attachment to this letter) still apply.
The Non-Championship event is open to all bands registered with The Band Association but is intended for those
who have not competed at the State Band Championships before to participate in the wider event and become a
more active part of the banding community. It is also intended to provide bands who have not competed for a long
period of time a softer path back into regular competition.
Live Streaming – Brassbanned
For our friends and family members who can’t make it to the venue, the Championships will be Live Streamed by
Tim Kelly and his team at www.brassbanned.com subject to confirmation.
Tim and his team generously volunteer their time to do this service for our movement so please show your support
and encourage all your friends, relatives and band supporters to watch.
By-Laws
All Bands entering the contest should make themselves familiar with the Band Association’s By-Laws relating to
the conduct of contests. Check the BANSW website for the current By-Laws www.bandnsw.com.
If you have any questions about the By-Laws and condition of entry please contact either the Contest Administrator
or Association Secretary.
Important Dates
 Perpetual trophies to be returned to the Association office by Friday 30th June 2017 for engraving and
repair as required.
 Closing date for entries is Friday 30th June 2017
 Closing date for Band and Player Registrations is Friday 14th July 2017
 Music scores for all items being performed (except Test Pieces) are required to be submitted by Friday
14th July 2017
 Permit Applications are to be in the hands of the Association’s Secretary no later than Friday 10th August
2017
 On-stage seating plans for concert bands can be completed by visiting http://www.bgreco.net/band. Once
completed print to pdf and email to [email protected] no later than Friday 10th August 2017. Brass
bands should complete the stage plan provided.
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Music, Time Limits and Points
Set Test pieces are as per the Test Music Release Schedule released on the 1st February, 2017.
All Bands with the exception of Open D Grade Brass and Concert, Junior D Grade Concert and Junior C Grade
Brass must play a Hymn/Sacred Item, the Set Test and an Own Choice Major Work.
Bands in Open D Grade Brass and Junior C Grade Brass must play the Set Test, an Own Choice Major Work and a
Concert Item.
Bands in Open D Concert must play the Set Test, a Hymn/Sacred Item and a Concert Item.
Bands in Junior D Grade Concert must play the Set Test and Concert Items not exceeding the total performance
time allocated.
Bands in the Under 13 / Primary School events must perform a minimum of two contrasting items.
Maximum Points are as follows:
For Under 13 / Primary School events: An overall aggregate score out of 200 will be given only.
For Junior D Grade Concert: Set Test 100, rest of program a total of 100
For all other grades Set Test 100 points, Own Choice 100 points, Hymn/Sacred Item or Concert Item 50 points.
Time Limits for Own Choice items are:
All Grades:
Hymn:
Own Choice Selection:
A Grade:
B Grade:
C Grade:
D Grade:
Open and Junior D Grade and Junior Brass Concert Item:
6 mins
18 minutes
18 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
6 minutes
Bands in the Under 13/Primary School events have are limited to a 15 minute music program (not including
adjudication time).
Bands entered into the Non-Championship events have are limited to a 20 minute music program (not including
adjudication time).
Full scores are required for Own Choice Selections with a short score acceptable for the Hymn/Sacred Item and
Concert Items provided that the score has at least two staves with sufficient cues to permit an effective
adjudication.
For Bands in the Under 13 / Primary School and Non-Championship events full scores for works being performed
are preferable but if not available a short score as described above will be accepted.
NOTE: FOR ALL MUSIC ITEMS, ALL BARS MUST BE NUMBERED. PHOTOCOPIED PAGES MUST BE DOUBLE-SIDED.
SINGLE PAGE SCORES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ADJUDICATOR. NO IDENTIFYING NAMES OR MARKS TO
BE ON THE MUSIC. NO LOOSE LEAF MUSIC. ANY MUSIC IN AN UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION WILL BE RETURNED.
Grading of Bands
Any band wishing to enter a Championship event must be graded. If your Band is currently ungraded please lodge
a request with the Association Secretary.
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CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
1. State Champion in all Grades or Divisions will be determined on the aggregate sum total points awarded for
alll items performed.
2. A Sacred Item is defined as a hymn, hymn arrangement or a work of a similar nature which encourages a
state of peace, reflection, celebration and meditation.
Nominated sacred items will be reviewed by the Management Committee which has the right to accept or
refuse any music submitted as a Sacred Item.
3 A draw for the playing order will be made by the Management Committee prior to the contest and advised to
bands upon completion.
4 Open A and Open B Brass Grades and Junior A Grade Brass Bands will play their Test Selection and
Hymn/Sacred Item first and return to the stage to play their Own Choice Selection. All other Brass and
Concert Grades will play their items at one sitting.
5 All bands must enter their official grade. Should a band choose to enter the grade above their official grade,
application should be made to the Association prior to entries being received. A different Own Choice
Selection and Hymn/Sacred Item are required should a band choose to enter two grades and separate entry
fees are payable.
7. The NSW State Band Championships uses a standard percussion layout for the main percussion instruments
for ALL onstage band events (refer to percussion/stage seating plan for further details). Large percussion
equipment such as tympani, drum kit and tuned percussion will be set in fixed positions with only minor
positioning adjustments to be made. All other percussion equipment can be moved around these items.
Exceptions will ONLY be made for large concert bands where stage space is at a premium or where a specific
percussion layout is required by the score. This MUST be advised to the Contest Co-ordinator NO LATER
THAN 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. Bands are advised to plan their rehearsal with the set percussion
layout in mind.
8. It is a condition of entry into the contest venue that the Band Association of NSW Inc. and members of the
Management Committee, volunteers and any official will not be legally liable for 1) any loss, damage or theft
of any instrument or other valuables of any member of the public while attending the Championships, or 2)
any assault, illness, injury, death or any other circumstance that may arise during travel by any person to and
from the contest venue or while in attendance at the Championships.
9. The Management Committee reserves the right to refuse admission to any person to the contest venue
facilities. An official may request a person to leave a performance room and or the contest venue if their
behaviour is considered inappropriate.
10. In the event of improper behaviour, illness, injury or death the Management Committee reserves the right to
call NSW Police, and or Ambulance to the venue.
11. Any official, Volunteer or other person who witnesses, or becomes aware of, any act of bullying, sexual
discrimination, harassment or physical assault will report the occurrence to the Contest Supervisor who will
take appropriate action.
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Volunteer Help Needed
BANSW relies on a team of experienced, enthusiastic, generous and highly valuable volunteers who give their
time to make our events happen. However, with a event such as the State Band Championships, we are always in
need of many more enthusiastic, generous and wonderful people to help make our events the success they are.
Volunteering may involve anything from a half a day to the whole weekend.
We need your help and ask all of our bands participating in the Championships if they would be able to provide
some of your wonderful members, family members and friends to help run the Championships. Please contact
our Volunteers Coordinator Tony Luck by email to the Association Secretary [email protected] with the
names and contact details for anyone involved with your band that would like to assist at the contest.
The NSW State Band Championships are proudly supported by
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