Starting on Thursday around 2,500 musicians will compete in the ring for this year’s Band’s & Orchestras division of the Eisteddfod as the individuals will make up the 100 groups who have applied to compete in the competition.
“For many students this is their best opportunity to get valuable performance experience, perform in a professional venue and show their friends, family and the adjudicator of course, what they have been working on all year,” Eisteddfod Co-Convenor Simon Best said.
Bands & Orchestras is one of seven divisions that run throughout the year — the others are choirs, Instrumental, Piano, Singing, Aria and Speech and Drama.
The public will be able to see a wide variety of music styles from orchestral, concert band, brass band, jazz and rock. Performances will take place at a variety of venues including Llewellyn Hall ANU, Lyneham High School & Canberra Institute of Music.
“The general public may not be aware of how many wonderful musicians and bands we have in Canberra,” said Best. “Every day we discover new, up-and- coming talent.”
A highlight of the division is the Friday night Open Section for Concert Bands and Brass Bands, where local and regional bands battle it out for a range of awards and prizes.
Bands performing in this year’s competition include Canberra City Band, Ginninderra Wind Orchestra, Canberra Brass (Hall Village), Victoria Street Brass, Tuggeranong Valley Band, Hunter School of Performing Arts and Epping Boys High School.
As well as section prizes and non-competitive trophies, a number of special awards will be made over the week including the Greysen Music Award for an emerging conductor, Kaaren Talty Jazz Encouragement Award and the ACT Music Educators Network Encouragement Award.
Carmelo Puglisi from St Bernard’s College, Melbourne as this year’s main adjudicator.
The Australian National Eisteddfod presents Bands and Orchestras from Thursday, May 23 to Thursday, May 30 . Bookings for Llewellyn Hall events to 132 849. For the schedule of events visit nationaleisteddfod.org.au.
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