CONCERT BAND DIVISION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Fitzsimmins, Midhurst, ON – Chair, Concert Band Division
Isabelle Brassard-Porter, Ottawa, ON – Vice Chairman, Concert Band Division
Pratik Gandhi, Toronto, ON – Vice Chairman, Concert Band Division
Dr. Mark Hopkins, Halifax, NS – Vice Chairman, Canadian Wind Orchestra & Scholarships
Dr. Gillian MacKay, Toronto, ON, Canadian Wind Orchestra
CONCERT BANDS & CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
PERFORMANCE CODES
B – Denotes Division – Concert Band/Orchestra Division
# – Denotes class as defined in Section 3 below
CATEGORIES OF ENSEMBLES
| ENSEMBLE | # OF PERFORMERS |
| Chamber Ensemble | 2-12 |
| Concert Band | 13 or more |
| Guitar Ensemble | 7-25 |
| Percussion Ensemble | 4 or more |
CLASSES OF PARTICIPATION
CHAMBER, GUITAR & PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES
| ENSEMBLE | AGE LIMIT |
| B101 | no age restrictions |
| B201 | max. age of 20 years as of Jan. 1st of the Festival Year |
| B301 | max. age of 17 years as of Jan. 1st of the Festival Year |
| B401 | max. age of 15 years as of Jan. 1st of the Festival Year |
CONCERT BAND
Please note class numbers are coded to reflect the grade level of the test piece being performed. Only works listed in this year’s Concert Band Syllabus will satisfy the syllabus requirement for the 2026 festival. Scores of each concert band’s syllabus selection will be provided to the adjudication panel by Musicfest Canada. Canadian works listed in the Concert Band Syllabus are marked (CA) and will also satisfy the Canadian content requirement.
| B600 | Performance of a B600 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
| B500 | Performance of a B500 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
| B400 | Performance of a B400 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
| B300 | Performance of a B300 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
| B200 | Performance of a B200 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
| B100 | Performance of a B100 piece from the Festival Syllabus |
PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE
CHAMBER, PERCUSSION AND GUITAR ENSEMBLES
All members of a Chamber Ensemble are expected to be performing with a Concert Band or Guitar Ensemble which is registered and participating at the National Festival and must have qualified with their Chamber or Guitar Ensemble at a MusicFest Canada sanctioned Affiliated Festival. Exceptions may be granted by the Festival Chairman for extenuating circumstances.
Ensembles are requested to perform two selections of contrasting style – own choice. “Pop” literature is inappropriate.
Performance is limited to 15 minutes of music and 20 minutes total stage time including set up, performance and tear down. Groups exceeding the time restrictions may be suspended and their performance cut short.
Live Festival Performance Considerations: Each Chamber, Guitar and Percussion Ensemble will receive a 30-minute clinic with a Festival Clinician focusing on observations made during the on stage performance. Each ensemble must provide the adjudicators with two conductor’s scores for each selection performed. Scores are to be given to the check in desk by the director prior to the performance and picked up by the director following the performance and clinic. MusicFest is not responsible for materials not picked up prior to the ensemble leaving the performance/clinic area.
Warm up rooms will be available for a maximum of 20 MINUTES prior to the performance. Each ensemble must report to the warm up check in area 45 MINUTES prior to performance time to allow sufficient time to put cases and equipment in the assigned storage area.
CONCERT BAND
Ensembles are required to perform three selections at their class level as follows:
MANDATORY: ONE SELECTION FROM THE FESTIVAL SYLLABUS. (WHICH MAY ALSO BE THE REQUIRED CANADIAN PIECE)
Two selections in contrasting style (may be individual movements from a single work) – director’s choice. One of the pieces MUST be Canadian from the Syllabus
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that one of the three pieces be lyrical in nature.
One selection performed must be either composed and/or arranged by a Canadian Composer. If selected from the Syllabus it may be used as the mandatory syllabus test piece. Or it can be one of the “Director’s Choice” selections in addition to the Syllabus selection. .
“Pop” material is inappropriate.
Live Festival Performance Considerations:
For Concert Bands, warm up rooms will be available for a maximum of 30 MINUTES prior to performance. The Ensemble will be expected to leave the warm up room up to 10 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time in order to arrive at the stage on time, leaving approximately 20 minutes for warm up. All Ensembles must report to the warm up check in area 1 HOUR prior to the performance time to allow sufficient time to put cases and equipment in the assigned storage area.
Performance is limited to a maximum of 30 MINUTES which will include: set up, introduction of the Ensemble, Chorale performance and exit from the stage. An Ensemble exceeding this time restriction will be suspended and their performance cut short. Ensembles performing senior level music are advised to program carefully with these restrictions in mind.
Each Concert Band will receive a 60-minute clinic with a Festival Clinician focusing on observations made during the on stage performance.
The session will include an adjudicated sight reading performance and clinic for all bands. The Standard of Performance granted by the Sight Reading Adjudicator will provide one factor toward the Ensemble’s overall Standard of Performance.
To ensure that each adjudicator/clinician will be able to provide a detailed and informed adjudication, Ensemble Directors SHOULD MAKE A REASONABLE EFFORT TO provide the adjudicators with four CONDUCTOR’S SCORES of each NON SYLLABUS selection that is to be played. To allow the adjudicators to refer to specific places in the score, the bars within the scores submitted should be numbered.
Each Ensemble Director will receive, for personal use, a video recording with commentary and suggestions by a noted conductor/teacher.
ADJUDICATION
Ensembles will be evaluated to a “National Standard of Performance” unless they have requested “Adjudication Only” prior to their performance.
Musical integrity will be the basis of evaluation. Adjudicators’ comments will include consideration of stylistic interpretation, intonation, dynamics, attacks, releases, articulations, blend, balance, repertoire and instrumentation.
Adjudicator’s comments will reflect a total assessment of the performance selections. Adjudicators’ comments will be intended as a guide for the continued development of the Ensemble.
EQUIPMENT (Live Festival)
The Festival WILL PROVIDE the following equipment only:
CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
Warm Up Room: Chairs and music stands only.
Festival Performance Area/Clinic Rooms: One Yamaha acoustic or electric piano, chairs and music stands.
CONCERT BAND
Warm Up Room: Chairs and music stands only.
Clinic Rooms: Chairs, RAT music stands, Ludwig drum set (with Dream cymbals), bass drum, 4 Ludwig tympani (23″, 26″, 29″, 32″), Musser orchestra bells, xylophone and chimes, and one Yorkville bass amplifier.
Festival Performance Area: Chairs, RAT music stands (numbers and layout may be restrictive due to performance stage configuration), Ludwig bass drum, Ludwig concert snare drum with stand, 4 Ludwig tympani (23″, 26″, 29″, 32″), one Ludwig drum set (five piece with Dream ride, crash and hi-hat cymbals), one Dream gong with stand, one Yamaha acoustic or electric piano, Musser orchestra bells, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone and chimes, two Yorkville bass amplifiers, and a small table.
The Festival WILL NOT PROVIDE cymbals (except where installed on the drum set), mallets, beaters, sticks, auxiliary percussion, additional amplifiers, extension or patch cords, other furniture, other keyboard instruments or other equipment not listed above. Drummers are only permitted to exchange the snare drum and bass pedal. The Dream cymbals which are provided, may not be removed from their stands or from the drum set, but may be re-organized as required. The ensemble may add cymbals to the drum kit, provided that they are complete on their own stand.
The moving of all percussion and stage equipment must be done by MusicFest staff, who will request assistance as required.
Equipment will be set up as per the stage plot provided by the Ensemble. Any movement of any equipment on the stage is counted against the total allowed time on the stage.
Potentially hazardous materials including, but not limited to, open flames or flammables and vessels containing water will not be permitted on stage.
CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL SYLLABUS
Directors must select the appropriate Ensemble class as determined by the choice of literature set in the online FESTIVAL SYLLABUS. Any exceptions or clarifications may be obtained by contacting the National Festival Chair, Sharon Fitzsimmins at 705-817-0039 or sharon.fitzsimmins@musicfest.ca. CONCERT BANDS MUST PERFORM ONE SELECTION FROM THE SYLLABUS LIST AS PERTAINING TO THE CLASS ENTERED. AT LEAST ONE OF THE SELECTIONS MUST BE BY A CANADIAN COMPOSER/ARRANGER (WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE FROM THE SYLLABUS). THE CHAIRMAN MAY, UNDER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, CHANGE A SELECTION ON THE SYLLABUS.
THE SYLLABUS CAN BE FOUND AT: http://musicfest.ca/concert-band-syllabus/
