Concert Band / Wind Ensembles

Categories

  • Chamber Group: 3 to 9 performers of brass, woodwind and/or percussion instruments
  • Concert Band: Minimum group size should be able to reflect the musical intentions of the composer/arranger of the selections performed.

Presentation & Performance – Chamber Ensembles

  • Chamber Groups: Ensembles are required to perform two contrasting selections of their own choice. Two additional bound or licensed PDF copies of each score are required. Please note: There is NO style requirement/restriction/guideline for this ensemble category.

Presentation & Performance – Concert Bands

  • Concert Bands: Bands are required to perform selections at their class level. One selection should be from either the MusicFest Canada syllabus or the OBA Syllabus. Selections should be of contrasting styles.
  • Typically, a band performing at the B100, B200, or B300 levels should prepare and present THREE pieces, not exceeding 15 minutes of music.
  • B400, B500, and B600 Ensembles (or B300 with longer selections) are still working with the 15 minutes of music guideline/limitation. Therefore please present only two (2) selections in order to stay within the allotted stage/transition time and capitalize on time with the clinicians. Note that ONE of these pieces should be taken from either syllabus list.
  • The GHMF does not currently have a Canadian content requirement however, MusicFest Canada – The Nationals DOES. It is possible for your ensemble to receive a MusicFest Canada invitation based on a programme WITHOUT Canadian content, however the GHMF recommends that you incorporate it whenever you are able.
  • Bands are strongly encouraged, per above, to contrast their materials. As such, lyrical/slow music should appear at some point within your ensemble’s programme.
  • Bands opting for a “clinic only” (NO RATING, NO MusicFest/Nationals Invitation capability) may play 2 or 3 contrasting selections of their own choice totalling 15 minutes (no syllabus requirement). Note that the “CLINIC ONLY” choice must be declared by the band director at the time of ensemble information form entry/submission.
  • Bands may perform a short warm up which will not be adjudicated, if their stage time allows. This could be a scale pattern, or chorale, etc
  • Pop/Movies/TV/Disney/Broadway selections will no longer be adjudicated or rated and should not be programmed in a concert band entry at the GHMF. . Should these appear in a concert band’s festival programme, this could negatively impact your festival rating and these pieces will not receive feedback/clinic time, and the ensemble will not be considered for a MusicFest Canada invitation, as this is one of their main regulations. *Note this is ONLY for concert band. If you are bringing a jazz band, please review Jazz Band Repertoire regulations. Please also note: There are a very small number of syllabus-driven exceptions (ie Bernstein pieces in the upper grades)

  • It is required that performance time (minutes of music) not exceed 15 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble’s time with the clinicians, and account for stage/searing/transition times between rooms. Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time so please budget your stage time accordingly.

 

Conductor Scores for Adjudicators

  • Two additional original (whether they are bound or licensed PDF) copies of each score are required for adjudication purposes. **Please note, we require all participants to provide ALL scores per above. The OBA/GHMF will not be hosting the use of any conductor scores for the 2025 Festival. “On backorder/order” letters, receipts, proof of payments are NOT accepted alongside illegal photocopied scores.

If you are providing photocopies, these must be accompanied by a letter of licensing/reproduction permission from the **copyright holder only**. This is usually the publisher or the composer themselves (if it’s an independent composition). Retail stores **do not** have the authority to grant a permission to photocopy on behalf of a music publisher.