NSW Young Band Person of the Year Award

In 1999 the BANSW introduced the Young Musician of the Year Award. The award was renamed in 2010 to the Young Band Person of the Year (YBPOTY) Award, with an amended selection criterion. In 2022, the BANSW refreshed and expanded the YBPOTY Award selection criteria and awards structure.

YBPOTY Award for 2022 and beyond

Objectives of the Program

To recognise and encourage the valuable participation and contributions of the BANSW’s younger members and our member bands to the growth and development of their and other bands. 

To encourage an increase in nominations for consideration and increase involvement in the program to include bands and their members across NSW. 

A nominee who wins a regional “Young Band Person of the Year” award will be considered for the State Young Band Person of the Year award. 

YBPOTY Selection Criteria

The nominee should show that they significantly contribute to the nominee’s band or the greater NSW/ACT banding community. Criteria to be addressed should include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Be 25 years and under 
• An attendance record of at least 80% for their Band rehearsals and engagements over the past two years;
• Be a member of a BANSW registered band;
• Voluntarily assists in the administrative functions of the band, e.g., working with the band’s secretary/contest administration, tour administration, librarian, etc.  
• Voluntarily assists with the musical development of the band, e.g., mentors learners; assists with developing inexperienced band members, supports or helps the band conductor, and contributes to the band’s musical development. 
• Voluntarily assists with logistical needs of the band, e.g., loading and moving percussion equipment, cleaning the band room after rehearsals, setting up the chairs and stands at engagements, etc.
• Assists other bands.
• Volunteers at community banding events such as HRBA events, SMBB events or any BANSW events;

The YBPOTY Awards

We divide NSW into 5 geographical boundaries (click on the NSW Regions Map for more details): 

1. Sydney Metro and the Blue Mountains; 
2. Hunter Region, Newcastle and Central Coast; 
3. Wollongong, Illawarra, South Coast and the ACT; 
4. North Coast, New England and North West; 
5. Central West, Far West and Riverina/Murray.

Each Regional winner will receive a Regional Certificate of Achievement and cash award or Gift Certificate to the value of $300. 

The NSW winner will receive the NSW Perpetual Trophy, a trophy to keep and a cash award or Gift certificate to the value of $500. 

YBPOTY Award Selection Process

• All nominations must be made online via the BANSW website (YBPOTY Online Application Form). 
• Anyone can make nominations, including self-nominations.
• The nomination must address the selection criteria. 
• All nominations will close by 1 August. Then, the BANSW YBPOTY Assessment Sub Committee will assess nominations within 3 weeks of closure.
• The Assessment Panel comprises 5 members plus the Chair, with at least 1 member from the HRBA and the SMBB. 
• The Panel will base assessments on the information provided in the nomination. We may contact the relevant band back to make verification. 
• Regional winners will be announced and presented at an appropriate time or event before the State Band Championships. We will publish the regional winners in the earliest edition of The Music Stand post winner announcement.
• We will then consider each regional winner for the State Young Band Person of the Year award. 
• A Panel of 3 will decide the State award, including the President of the BANSW and 2 other appointments invited by the BANSW Management Committee. In assessing the State winner, the primary consideration should be the nominee’s level of impact on their band/bands or the greater banding community. 
• We will conduct a “Finalists Meet and Greet” with the members of the Panel of 3 via Zoom (or another electronic form) before the final decision to announce the State winner. 
• The Young Band Person of the Year Award recipient will be announced annually at the NSW State Band Championships. 

Online Application Form

To make a nomination for the BANSW YBPOTY Award, please click this link to our YBPOTY Online Application Form.