WA Schools' Senior Concert Band Festival

The aims of the WA Schools’ Senior Concert Band Festival are to:

• give ensembles a performance opportunity at an international standard venue.
• give ensemble members an opportunity to hear other ensembles perform.
• provide each ensemble with constructive comments from a panel of informed adjudicators.
• provide ensembles with the opportunity to work with top level directors in a workshop format.
• present each ensemble with an adjudication and certificate which recognises its participation and recognised standard of performance.

Ensembles perform within a division with a panel of adjudicators providing written and spoken feedback.

Directors will receive 2 recordings of their ensemble, including one with spoken adjudicator’s comments superimposed over the music.

During each performance, conductors will be filmed if requested and given constructive and confidential feedback on their conducting by an adjudicator. Feedback will be emailed to the conductor (no longer face-to-face). This has proved to be very popular with many directors and the positive feedback that they have received, has been an extremely valuable tool in their professional development.

Adjudications and certificates can be collected at the end of the festival at Instrumental Music School Services, 150 Guildford Rd, Maylands. Postage available for regional schools. 

Individual ensemble results are not posted online or announced as each ensemble can decide whether they want their results to be publicly available.

Ensembles from Premier, A, B and C Divisions are expected to present an appropriate program of up to 3 pieces, which must include one piece from the Band festival music selections list 2024.

Music selection lists conform to the following standards:

• C Division = grades 1.5 and below
• B Division = grades 2 and 2.5
• A Division = grades 3 and 3.5
• Premier Division = grades 4 and above

The item of your own choice must be equal in difficulty to those listed for the division the ensemble is performing in. Directors are advised to observe the published grade levels appropriate to each division in making additional selections.

For more information or advice on music selection, email president@abodawa.com.au. 

Many of the scores and parts of the music for each division can be viewed at the Instrumental Music School Services resource centre.

• Disadvantaged ensembles can apply for up to 2 extra players when submitting their application. Extra players can include current students, ex-students or teachers, in special circumstances.

• Access a stage plan for the auditorium and the concert hall.

Photographs of participating bands from the 2023 festival are available for viewing and purchase at ProPhotoBooth. Use the password 'aboda24'.

One of the reasons for the outstanding success of the festival over the last 40 years is the contribution made by volunteers. Some of the tasks we need volunteers for include stage management, ticket selling and marshalling.

Volunteering is a great way to meet other directors and hear bands from other schools and divisions.

If you are interested in volunteering, register for your preferred session or sessions using the online database.