Here is the 2023 Solos & Party Event Listing with time limits a registered member can enter. All events for 2023 are own choice.

Competitors should note that room supervisors will strictly monitor the time limits for own choice events. 

When selecting appropriate music for each event, use the following as a guideline:

• Under 15 events – AMEB Grade 3 or better
• Under 19 events – AMEB Grade 5 or better
• Open events – AMEB Grade 6 or better

There are NO Test Pieces set for the 2023 NSW Solos & Party Championships. All Open, Under 15 and 19 Solo events and Party events are 'Own Choice'.

The BANSW will reinstate test pieces for Solo events for the 2024 NSW Solos & Party Championships.

All Perpetual Trophies

• Perpetual trophy holders from the previous year should return their trophy (engraved and in good condition) to the Band Association no later than 6 weeks before the contest.

Photography

• There is to be no photography or video recording of performers during the Championships. An official photographer may be at the venue, depending on availability. You can only take photos once a performer has finished or at the time of results.

Administration

• The Championships proceed according to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Band Association of NSW Inc., particularly By-Law 22, and the rules and conditions set out below or made by the Contest Committee during the Championships. You can view the Rules and By-Laws.
• The Championships will be under the control of the appointed Contest Supervisor.
• A Room Supervisor is appointed to each room and is responsible for ensuring observation of contests rules.

Eligibility

• Entrants must be registered members of either the Band Association of NSW Inc, an Australian State Association, or a National Association where an entrant is a resident outside Australia.
• If an entrant turns 15 or 19 on the weekend of the contest, then they will need to go up a grade. An Under 15 player may enter an Under 15 and/or Under 19 solo event. An Under 15 player may enter an Open solo event only if they have previously won a State Championship solo event. An Under 19 player may enter an Under 19 and/or Open solo event.
• The qualifying age for Veteran's Solo is 55.

Uniforms

• It is a condition of entry that a player must wear their registered band's uniform.
• Disqualification of a player can occur if they are not wearing the correct uniform.

Trophy Events

• Trophy events have restricted entry criteria as follows:

Stewart Douglass Trophy: Slow Melody solo event for Under 15 players of any instrument.

Dora Simm Trophy: Jazz/Popular Music solo event for Under 15 players of any instrument.

Paul Cerezo Trophy: Slow Melody solo event for Under 19 players of any instrument.

Hansen Trophy: Jazz/Popular Music solo event for Under 19 players of any instrument.

Lisa Butcher Memorial Award: Jazz/Popular Music solo event for Open players of any instrument.

Presidents Shield: Slow Melody solo event for Open players of any instrument.

Slow Melody Guidelines

• A purely melodic composition. No variations or cadenzas, or florid sections, e.g. continual bars of semiquavers. Tempo generally will not exceed 80 crotchets per minute.

Jazz/Popular Music Guidelines

• Any solo from a specialist "Jazz Genre" or a "Jazz Standard" solos book inviting the soloist to approach the notated solos with freedom relative to the style/genre. 
• Melodic embellishments and the inclusion of an improvised solo are encouraged.
• Music selected should be consistent with the expected standards outlined for own choice music.

Percussion Events

• Percussionists may enter single or multiple events within each age classification. Entry in two or more different age classifications will be considered as separate entries for each age class.
• Piano Accompaniment is allowed for all Percussion events in line with other individual instrument events. Please note no backing music or singing is allowed as accompaniment or part of the performance for percussion events.
• The percussion adjudicator is screened unless the adjudicator requests explicitly to be unscreened. We will notify entrants if this occurs.

Accompanists

• We provided an official accompanist for each room. They are not permitted to move from one room to another, nor are they allowed to charge an entrant a fee to accompany them at the contest. Accompanists will charge a rehearsal fee of which will be confirmed by the accompanist at the time of booking. BANSW takes no responsibility for setting rehearsal fees.
• Soloists may use their own accompanist at their own cost. However, if that accompanist is unavailable when the soloist is called on to perform, they must use the official accompanist.
• Copies of music for accompanists must be bound, legible and in good condition. Using loose sheet music will not be accepted. If you would like your accompanist music back, please collect it from the accompanist after your performance. 

Draw for Playing Order

• We will conduct a draw for each event before the contest and print this in the contest program. The draw for the Under 15 and 19 Champion of Champions events will be completed after all related individual solo events to confirm entrant numbers.
• If the Contest Supervisor or Contest Administrator is unavailable, a Room Supervisor may permit a player to play out of order. The player will retain the draw number initially allocated in the program.

It is a condition of entry into the contest venue that the Band Association of NSW Inc. and members of the Management Committee, volunteers and any official will not be legally liable for:

• Any loss, damage, theft of any instrument or other valuables of any person while attending the Championships.
• Any assault, illness, injury, death or other circumstance arising during travel by a person to, from, or while attending the Championships.
• The Management Committee reserves the right to refuse admission to any person or persons to the contest venue facilities. An official may request a person to leave a performance room or the contest venue if their behaviour is considered inappropriate.
• In improper behaviour, illness, injury or death, the Management Committee reserves the right to call NSW Police and or Ambulance to the venue.
• Any official, Volunteer or another person who witnesses, or becomes aware of, any act of bullying, the sexual or physical assault must report the occurrence to the Contest Supervisor, who will decide appropriate action.
• Children under 16 years of age, unaccompanied by a parent or family member, must be accompanied by a person holding an approved WWCC and can provide the details for review upon request.

* There are 2 entry forms, one for Solo and Trophy events, the other for Party events. *

Entries for the NSW Solos & Party Championships for 2023 will commence on 1 March - now closed.

Soloists or Band Secretaries should complete their entry using the online entry forms below. The entry forms calculate the fees due. Please note how the multi-percussion events calculate. If assistance is required to complete the entry form, contact the Contest Administrator. 

• Entries will not be accepted after the closing date, 5 May.
• We will confirm events entered for each band to band secretaries after entries have closed.
• The Band Association of NSW Inc. or its representatives may decline an entry without reason.
• Entry forms must be completed using the forms below

There are 2 entry forms, one for Solo and Trophy events, the other for Party events. *

Solo and Trophy Events Entry Form - now closed

Party Events Entry Form - now closed

Entry Fees for 2023 are:

• Solo Events (per event): $35
• Percussion events:
• 1 event - $35
• 2 events within the same grade - $50
• 3 events within the same grade - $65
• 4 events within the same grade - $75
• Trophy Events/Duets/Trios: $35
• Quartets and Small Ensembles (5-9): $45
• Large Ensemble (10+): $55

 Pay for your entry via our Online Shop. 

The issuing of refunds will only be in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Management Committee.

Audience tickets will be available on the day of the Championships only (no pre-sales). Contactless payments may be available on the day, pending on internet connection strength.

• Single Day Ticket: $10
• 2 Day Ticket: $15
• Concession Day Ticket: $8
• Concession 2 Day Ticket: $12
• Program: $5

The timetable for the 2023 NSW Solos & Party Championships is now available here.

UPDATE: Cheryl Oxley's email address has been updated to the correct one. 

If you have a band member who entered multiple events and believes there may be a possible clash, please let the Contest Administrator know to review. 

Individual competitor times are not released. The competitor's responsibility is to monitor the progress of the rooms in which their event/s is to be. 

Competitors must complete registration for an event no later than 30 mins before the event's start.

Accompanists: TBA

Adjudicators: TBA

We provide the music stands, and warm-up rooms will be available.

A grand piano will be available in all rooms where possible. If unavailable, there should be at a minimum an upright available.

For Percussion events, we will supply:

• Drum Kit
• Concert Snare Drum
• Tympani
• Xylophone/Glockenspiel/Vibraphone/5 Octave Marimba

UPLOADING MUSIC

• Music uploads are due by 26 May 2023 - upload is no longer open. If you haven't already uploaded your music, please submit it to the registrar on the day. 
• Adjudicators' music MUST NOT contain distinguishing marks that may identify the competitor or the band they represent.
• All music for the adjudicator must have all bars numbered. 
• Competitors are encouraged to contact and provide the official accompanists with their music prior to the contest. Otherwise, accompanist music can be handed to the registration desks on the day. All music for the accompanists must be provided in a display book. Loose music will be handed back.
• If you failed to upload it, please bring a printed copy with all bars numbers for the adjudicator on the day of the contest.

 CHECKING IN:

All competitors must check-in for each event they have entered at least 30 minutes before the event is due to commence.

Adjudication recordings are online MP3 files.

These recordings will be made available within 24 hours of the conclusion of the Championships.

An automatic invitation to compete in the Champion of Champions events goes to all winners of individual solo events in all grades. It occurs at the time of the announcement of the results of their section.

If competing, the invitee should notify the Room Registrar where the Champion of Champions event is being held of their intentions and provide their music. For example, if an invitee competes using the same piece they played in the solo event, they will need to collect their music from the Contest Office to give to the Room Registrar.

The draws for each Champion of Champion event occur after all solo events that make up each Champion of Champion event.

Under 15 and 19 Champion of Champion events will be contested on Sunday afternoon at Barker College. Whilst the Open Champion of Champions will be held separately at the NSW State Band Championships.

Volunteering is crucial for our community to run a successful Championships. Without people volunteering their time and skills, we couldn't hold these events to the high degree that our members have come to expect.

We have a range of positions available:

Room Supervisors and Announcers

Room Registrars

Recorders

Runners

Door Keepers

Ticket Sellers

Catering - morning/afternoon tea for volunteers and officials.

If you have some free time over the weekend, why not come along and help us out. All it will take is to complete the interest form below.

The adjudicator will hold a masterclass after both the Under 15 and Under 19 percussion events. In addition, depending on interest, we may have an open percussion workshop open to non-competitors.

**As a disclaimer, there may be some changes pending the relevant health advice at the time of the event.** https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Spit Towel: Each musician must bring a spit towel to use in warm-up rooms and on stage. Room Supervisors will wipe down stands between performances.

COVID-19 Safety:

• Hand sanitiser will be available on entry to all rooms,
• Maintain social distancing where possible,
• Wear a face mask if you can't maintain social distancing,
• Audience numbers may be restricted to prevent overcrowding,
• There may be untimetabled breaks to allow the air to circulate in the rooms.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19