Division 1 - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

 

Standard:
This division is intended for bands playing at the highest level of secondary school big bands. Bands should be comfortable with executing a very high level of stylistic interpretation, technique, and tone colour, with rhythm sections having an exceptional understanding and delivery of different feels and grooves. Bands should be performing professional level (Grade 5 and above) material. The set piece for Division 1 will be a professional chart, or chart of a professional standard.

 

Players Band Instrumentation:

The instrumentation of bands entering Division 1 is to consist of:

• 5 Saxophones

• 5 Trumpets (up to)

• 4 Trombones Rhythm Section

• 1 Piano

• 1 Drums

• 1 Bass

• 1 Guitar

Optional

• Percussion

• Vibes

 

Alternative instruments are allowed if they are required by the specific chart selection eg: woodwind doubles, flugelhorns, tuba, additional percussion, etc. Any member of the band may play any of the above instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty (20) on stage at any one time.

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Performance Requirements

Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• GIJ Set Piece (Hi Hat Man)

• Ballad of Own Choice &

• Own Choice

 

Performance Time:  30 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants.

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day.

Band warm up areas will be provided for use prior to performance time.

 

Players On Stage:

There must be no more than 20 musicians on stage for Division 1 at any one time.

 

No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.

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Division 2 - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

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Standard:
This division is for bands at an advanced level, or bands or who are transitioning from the intermediate level up to an advanced level. Bands should have a high level of understanding towards style and interpretation and should be performing with good technique and definition of articulation. The test piece for division 2 will be of a lower advanced to advanced level (grade 4, to 4 and a half).

 

 

Band Instrumentation:

The instrumentation of bands entering Division 2 is to consist of:

• 5 Saxophones

• 5 Trumpets (up to)

• 4 Trombones Rhythm Section

• 1 Piano

• 1 Drums

• 1 Bass

• 1 Guitar

Optional

• Percussion

• Vibes

 

Any member of the band may play any of the above instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty (20) on stage at any one time.

 

Subtle size and instrumentation variations will be accepted (eg: Tuba instead of bass trombone, only 4 saxes, etc...). For severely reduced line- ups or ensembles with odd instrumentation, see Div 4 + (Mixed instrumentation) and Div 5 (non-competitive)."

  

Performance Requirements:
Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• GIJ Set Piece (Remembering Basie)

• Own Choice (for 2024 only)

• Own Choice

 

Performance Time:  25 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants

 

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day. Band warm up areas will be provided for use prior to performance time.

 

Players on stage:
There must be no more than 20 musicians on stage for Division 2 at any one time.

 

No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.

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Division 3 - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

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Standard:
This division is for bands at an intermediate level. Bands should have a good level of understanding towards style and interpretation and should be performing with sound technique and definition of articulation. The test piece for division 3 will be of an intermediate level (grade 3, to 3 and a half).

 

 

Band Instrumentation:
The instrumentation of bands entering Division 3 is to consist of:

• 5 Saxophones

• 5 Trumpets (up to)

• 4 Trombones Rhythm Section

• 1 Piano

• 1 Drums

• 1 Bass

• 1 Guitar

Optional

• Vibes

 

Any member of the band may play any of the above instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty (20) on stage at any one time.

 

Subtle size and instrumentation variations will be accepted (eg: Tuba instead of bass trombone, only 4 saxes, etc...).

For severely reduced line- ups or ensembles with odd instrumentation, see Div 4 + (Mixed instrumentation) and Div 5 (non-competitive)."

 

Performance Requirements:

Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• GIJ Set Piece - Bye Burner 

• Ballad of Own Choice &

• Own Choice

 

Band Performance Times: 20 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants

 

Band warm up areas will be provided prior to performance time.

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day.

 

Players on Stage:

There must be no more than 20 musicians on stage for Division 3 at any one time. No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as  an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.

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Division 4 - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

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Standard:
This division is for bands at an upper junior/lower intermediate level. Bands should have a good level of understanding towards style and interpretation and should be performing with sound technique and definition of articulation within their chosen material. The test piece will be of an upper junior level (grade 2, to 2 and a half).

  

Band Instrumentation:

The instrumentation of bands entering Division 4 is to consist of:

• 5 Saxophones (up to)

• 5 Trumpets (up to)

• 4 Trombones Rhythm Section

• 1 Piano

• 1 Drums

• 1 Bass

• 1 Guitar

Optional

• Vibes

 

Any member of the band may play any of the above instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty (20) on stage at any one time.

 

Subtle size and instrumentation variations will be accepted (eg: Tuba instead of bass trombone, only 4 saxes, etc). For severely reduced line-ups or ensembles with odd instrumentation, see Div 4 + (Mixed instrumentation) and Div 5 (non-competitive)."

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Performance Requirements

Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• GIJ Set Piece - Timeless Stomp

• Ballad of Own Choice &

• Own Choice

 

Band Performance Times: 20 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants

Band warm up areas will be provided prior to performance time.

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day.

 

Players on Stage:
There must be no more than 20 musicians on stage for Division 4 at any one time. No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.

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Division 4+ (Mixed Instrumentation) - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

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Standard:
This division is for bands at an upper junior/lower intermediate level, but who have unusual instrumentation, or very reduced or inflated line-ups. Bands should have a good level of understanding towards style and interpretation and should be performing with sound technique and definition of articulation within their chosen material. The test piece will be of an upper junior level (grade 2, to 2 and a half).

 

Note: It is the job of each school's Music/Band Director to re-orchestrate the Division 4 Set Piece for their specific instrumentation.

 

Band Instrumentation:
Substitution of any instrument is permitted. Any member of the band may play any instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty-five (25 on stage at any one time).

 

Performance Requirements:
Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• GIJ Set Piece - Timeless Stomp (Mixed Instrumentation)

• Ballad of Own Choice &

• Own Choice

 

Please Note:

It is individual schools’ responsibility to re-orchestrate the Division 4+ Set Piece for their specific line-up.

 

Band Performance Time:     20 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants

 

Band warm up areas will be provided prior to performance time.

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day.

 

Players on Stage

There must be no more than twenty-five 25 musicians on stage for Division 4+ at any one time. No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.

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Division 5 (Non Competitive) - City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards

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Standard:

This Division is for young/junior ensembles, ensembles with usual instrumentation, ensembles with heavily reduced or inflated line-ups, or ensembles who simply want to perform in a non-competitive environment. Each ensemble will receive constructive comments and encouragements from an adjudicator but will not be ranked in any order. The Set Piece for division 5 will be of a junior level (grade 2 and lower) and will have optional instrumentation variations for schools with varied line-ups.

 

Band Instrumentation:
Substitution of any instrument is permitted

 

Any member of the band may play any instruments and bands may change their personnel and instrumentation during performance provided that no extra players are introduced to the stage that exceed the twenty-five (25 on stage at any one time).

 

Performance Requirements:
Each band must perform three pieces which will include:

• Ballad of Own Choice &

• Own Choice 1

• Own Choice 2

 

Note: No Set Piece for 2024

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Band Performance Time:  20 Minutes

 

Set up and quick tuning on stage is included in each band’s allocated time and we would ask that all Music Directors respect this request, to be fair to all participants.

 

Band warm up areas will be provided prior to performance time.

The only band permitted to warm up on stage is the first band scheduled on this day.

 

Players on Stage:

There must be no more than twenty-five (25) musicians on stage for Division 5 at any one time.

 

No teacher, parent or designated supervisor (unless acting as an accompanist or conductor) will be allowed on stage at any time.