WA Schools' Junior Concert Band Festival

The aims of the WA Schools' Junior Concert Band Festival are to:

• give bands 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.
• 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.

Novice ensembles will not be graded but will receive adjudication comments and a certificate of participation. Directors will receive 2 recordings of their ensemble, including one with spoken adjudicator’s comments superimposed over the music.

Bands can opt into a workshop directly after their performance given by one of the two adjudicators who have just listened to their band. This allows students direct contact with the adjudicators and offers a greater amount of educational value to students’ involvement in the festival.

During each performance, conductors will be filmed if requested and given constructive and confidential feedback on their conducting by an adjudicator. Feedback will be given electronically (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 (or posted for country schools) at the end of the festival at Instrumental Music School Services, 150 Guildford Rd, Maylands. Individual ensemble results are not posted online or announced as each ensemble can decide whether they want their results to be publicly available.

In 2026 the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association (ABODA) WA will trial a new repertoire list. Having reviewed school festival models in other states, in 2026 we will introduce a new model for the Concert Band Festival that reflects both musical excellence and the values of inclusivity and representation.

Based on feedback from this trial, the same model may be extended to the Orchestra Festivals in 2027.

By including the works of composers from diverse backgrounds, such as women, LGBTQ artists, and First Nation Australians, students experience a richer, more authentic view of the musical world. Broad repertoire choices recognise that creativity and quality exist across all traditions and identities. It enriches students’ musical understanding, strengthens cultural awareness, and fosters empathy by highlighting the social and historical contexts that shape music.

These values align with the Western Australian curriculum, The Arts (Music), as well as the general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities.

Concert Band Festival repertoire selection

Each level includes an inclusive repertoire list of 20 (12 for novices) works reflecting these values. Ensembles should present a programme of up to three pieces, with at least one selected from the list at their entered level. If you wish to substitute an alternative work that meets the same criteria, it must be submitted to the Review Committee for approval before the ensemble is entered in the festival.

Ensembles not presenting an item from the new repertoire list will still receive written feedback but will not receive the performance breakdown or a division certificate.

• Premier division – approximately grade 4+, advanced
• A division – approximately grade 3.0-3.5, medium advanced
• B division – approximately grade 2.0-2.5, medium
• C division – approximately grade 1.0-1.5, easy, medium easy
• Novice – approximately grade 0.5-1.0, beginning, very easy

To ensure the inclusive repertoire lists are as broad and representative as possible, we invite you to suggest works you feel may be a good match for future lists.

To make your suggestions, email ABODA at president@abodawa.com.au.

 Access the Concert Band Festival repertoire list.

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

Photographs of participating bands from the 2025 festival are available for viewing and purchase at ProPhotoBooth. Use the password 'aboda25'.

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.