2007 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS

IVANHOE, VICTORIA 5th TO 9th APRIL 2007

News Letter No 2 dated 29 January 2007

Countdown to the Contest - ten weeks to go!

We hope all your preparations are going well.

Planning and organizing for the Championships is well in hand. The two main venues in Ivanhoe are well appointed. The major venue is the Ivanhoe Centre, originally known as the Heidelberg Town Hall. An art-deco building from the 1930s, it has been lately refurbished, and the main hall seats over 700. There are several other smaller public spaces, which will be variously used for Solos and trade displays.

The Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School Performing Arts Centre is situated directly opposite the Ivanhoe Centre across Upper Heidelberg Road. It is a modern hall with raked seating for 500.

The following dates are important for participants in the Championships

22 February 2007

Final Date for Registration

All Bands and band persons (including permit players) must be duly registered with their respective State Governing Body by this date.

2 March 2007

Final Date for lodgment of:

Sign-on sheets. These are available here.

(For bands from NSW your State secretary will send these to you with your players’ names already listed on the form as recorded on the State data-base.)

Completed forms are due at the Office of your State Governing Body by this date.

Quartet and Quintet registration forms. These are available here and are also due at the Office of your State Governing Body by 2 March 2007

Own Choice Music

The scores for all Own Choice music should be posted to:

Victorian Bands League, 2/157 Hyde Street, Yarraville, Vic 3013 before this date.

Please ensure all own choice music is sent on time so that the titles of each piece can be included in the contest programme and so that the adjudicators can receive their music with sufficient time to study it .

The return sheets for all Own Choice music – for bands and ensembles are available here..

 Scores for Own Choice music must be submitted with ALL bars numbered and with no identifying marks of the band.

For Own Choice Selection, Quartet and Quintet - a full score is required

For Hymn - a short score of at least two staves, with cued entries to permit an effective adjudication, must be supplied if a full score is not available.

For On-Stage March and Street March - as a minimum, Solo Cornet/Conductor part, with cued entries to permit an effective adjudication, must be supplied if a full or short score is not available.

Illegible or poor copies of music will be returned to the entrant for recopy and may jeopardise the competitor’s entry if not received by the due date. Photocopies of music and/or scores will not be returned after the competition but will be destroyed by contest officials. All competitors are advised to acquaint themselves with the current copyright laws and regulations before submitting music.

23 March 2007 – Final date to apply for Permit Players

Applications for permit players must be received by your State Governing Body by this date. The NBCA application form is available here.

Changes to Test Pieces

Please draw to the attention of your soloists the following instrument cuts listed here, which will ensure that the set test pieces do not exceed a reasonable length:-

Open Bb Cornet	Play Mov't 1 only
Open Flugel Horn	Play Mov'ts 2. 3 & 4
Open Eb Tenor Horn	Play Mov'ts 2. 3 &5
Open Euphonium	Play Mov'ts 1 & 2
Open Ebb Bass/ F Tuba	Play Movt 3
Junior Bb Trumpet	Play Dances 1, 6 & 7
Junior French Horn	Play Mov'ts 1 & 2
Junior Euphonium	Play Mov'ts 1 & 2
Junior Flute	Play Pieces 1,2,4&5

General Information

The Draw

The draw for all events will be emailed separately. Please DO NOT publish the draw on any websites.

Percussion Equipment

A full list of percussion equipment provided for each grade will be included in the next News Letter

Accompanists

These will be finalized as soon as the Solo Time Table is concluded. Soloists will be advised of both their draw in the section and the official accompanist details shortly.

Parade of Bands

A full set of details will be provided in the next newsletter.

 Withdrawing from Events

Please keep us updated if your band, ensemble or soloists are going to withdraw from the competition. If you know of any definite scratchings – please advise us immediately so that we can delete them now from the contest programme. Thank you.

Contest Admission Prices

 Solos

Day Pass $10.00 Concession $8.00 Competitors in Uniform Free

Bands

Day Pass $15.00 Concession $12.00 Under 5 & Competitors in Uniform Free

Season Pass $35.00 all sessions except Gala Concert

Grand Season Pass $50.00 all sessions including Gala Concert

Gala Concert Admission Prices

Entry $25.00 per ticket Concession $20.00per ticket 12 & under $15.00 per ticket

Pre-booked Groups of 10 or more $20.00 per ticket

Tickets will be available at the door. You can pre-order by email or phone to the VBL office -03 9362 0200.

We are endeavouring to set up on line bookings for tickets.

Tickets for the Gala Concert will be available at the door unless sold out prior..

See you all there.

The 2007 Nationals Committee