76th Annual Townsville Eisteddfod
Band/Orchestra
05 Sep 2026 to 14 Sep 2026
(To be confirmed after receipt of Entries and Programming has been finalised)
View Discipline Rule

INSTRUMENTAL RULES & CONDITIONS  CHECK FOR CHANGES  

ADJUDICATOR: Warwick Adeney, Brisbane

DIGITAL PIANO ADJUDICATOR: Bradley Eustace, Gold Coast

  1. DEFINITIONS OF BANDS
  • Concert Band 13 to 80 performers: A balanced ensemble of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Acoustic string/electric bass, as per score, optional. No piano or keyboard except optional piano accompanist for Beginner Band.
  • Symphony Orchestra 13 to 80 performers: A full string section plus a proportional number of woodwinds, brass & percussion instruments.
  • Bowed String or Guitar Orchestra 13 to 80 performers: An ensemble of bowed string instruments. No piano, keyboard or percussion except optional piano accompanist for Beginner Orchestra.
  • Guitar Orchestra 13 to 80 performers: An ensemble of acoustic guitars. Bass guitar optional.

        No piano, keyboard or percussion

  • Stage Band13 to 30 performers: Repertoire must be in Jazz style. An ensemble of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section - substitute instruments may be used if necessary. Rhythm section may include keyboard, guitar (acoustic or electric), bass (acoustic or electric) and percussion (including kit). Vocalist optional.
  • Band/Orchestra Classification
  1. Primary Band: Level 1.5 & above repertoire.
  2. Beginner Band/ Beginner String Orchestra: Level 1 & under repertoire. Piano accompanist optional.
  3. A Grade: Level 3 & above repertoire.
  4. B Grade: Level 2.5 & under repertoire.
  5. Level must be noted on Adjudicator’s copy.
  1. DEFINITION OF ENSEMBLES
  1. 6 to 12 performers
  2. Percussion Ensemble:combination of tuned and untuned percussion instruments only. No piano or keyboard.
  3. Mixed Ensemble: combination of any instruments. Percussion & piano, as per score, optional but must be played by a member of the ensemble.
  4. Guitar Ensemble: Acoustic guitars only plus optional bass guitar.
  5. No backing track or accompaniment.
  6. Conductor optional.
  1. ENSEMBLES, BANDS, ORCHESTRAS
  1. No member of one Ensemble will be permitted to perform with another Group or Ensemble in the same Section unless playing a different instrument.
  2. Any Group or Ensemble entered as a School Group or Ensemble shall consist solely of current bonafide students of the class/school named.
  3. No music stand banners allowed.
  4. Only groups who have already competed in the relevant section may be seated in the auditorium.
  1. DIGITAL PIANO

         A Yamaha Clavinova will be supplied by the Keyboard Shop for the use of all competitors.

         Familiarisation and practice times prior to the Eisteddfod can be arranged with The Keyboard Shop.

         Usage of various features on the Clavinova is encouraged to enhance the performance.

        Competitors may enter EITHER by Age OR by Music Exam Grade. They may not enter both.

       Non-Classical definition: 20th or 21st Century or Modern Periods & Australian Composers

      Classical definition: Studies, Baroque, Classical or Romantic Periods. 

     A piece cannot be played if also performed in any other Piano section.

     Copies of music scores are not required for any Digital Piano Sections but Chairperson Forms x 2 must be submitted (1 for Chairperson & 1 for Adjudicator).

  1. DUO/TRIO/QUARTET/QUINTET
  1. A competitor may compete TWICE in a section if playing a different instrument in each.
  2. No conductor.
  1. ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT SOLO: Any instrument other than Bowed Strings, Brass, Piano or Woodwind.

     A looper pedal (own amp) is allowed for an electric guitar with a 2 minute time limit to create layers.

  1. OWN CHOICE

          All Instrumental sections are Own Choice.

  1. CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE:

          A serious composition with artistic merit excluding jazz or popular idiom. Music from any century is acceptable.

  1. ACCOMPANIMENT

          Piano accompaniment or Piano only MP3 Backing Track may be used for Solo sections.

          No backing track allowed for Championship.

         J S Bach Solo: Unaccompanied with the exception of piano accompaniment for Sonatas & Concertos.

  1. STAGE PLAN for Ensembles, Bands & Orchestras

         A completed stage plan (from last pages of Entry Book) must be submitted.

        Percussion will be pre-set, as shown on Stage Plan, & not moved, even if not using, for 18 & Under Bands & Symphony Orchestras.

  1. INSTRUMENTS PROVIDED FOR ENSEMBLES, BANDS AND ORCHESTRAS

           To avoid backstage congestion, and limit set-up time for bands, the following will be available at the Theatre. All Groups are requested not to bring these instruments:

            4 pedal timpani                       1 snare drum and stand          1 orchestral bass drum

           1 pair orchestral crash cymbals         1 bass drum (small size for primary school Groups)     1 suspended cymbal     1 glockenspiel and stand        1 drum kit         1 xylophone   1 marimba 1 vibraphone

           Stage Band: 1 electric piano /keyboard and 1 rhythm and 1 bass amp

          Guitar Ensemble:  I bass amp (if needed)

  1. PIANO SECTIONS

          An upright piano will be provided for all age Solo Sections.

          A Grand Piano will be provided for the JS Bach Solo and the Instrumental Championship only.

INSTRUMENTAL AWARDS

INSTRUMENTAL BURSARY & PIANO BURSARY

Any Townsville competitor age 15 to 18 who, in the opinion of the Adjudicator, shows the most potential. Must have competed in the relevant Championship.

AWARDS:

  • Most outstanding Instrumental Item
  • Most outstanding Band or Orchestra
  • Most promising Pianist age 13 to 18
  • Most promising Pianist age 12 & u
  • Most promising String student age 13 to 18
  • Most promising String student age 12 & u
  • Most promising Brass student
  • Most promising Woodwind student age 12 & u
  • Most promising Woodwind student age 13 to 18
  • Young Accompanist Encouragement age 25 & u
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 15/06/2026 11:59:00 PM +10:00 (AEST)
Age 18 & Under
178 Concert Band A Grade Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 max 80 members; Level 3 & above repertoire. No piano.

Donated by the Vasilescu Family

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
179 Concert Band B Grade Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 2.5 & under Repertoire; No Piano

Donated by William Ross State High School

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
Year 6 & Under
180 Concert Band Group     Year 6 & Under

Time Limit: 04:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 1.5 & above repertoire. No piano

Donated by Adrian & Janine Gabrielli

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
181 Beginner Concert Band Group     Year 6 & Under

Time Limit: 03:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 1 or under repertoire. Piano accompanist optional.

Donated by Arties Music

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
Age 18 & Under
182 Stage Band Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 Max 30 members; Jazz style; vocalist optional

Donated by Calvary Christian College

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
183 Bowed String Orchestra A Grade Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 3 & over repertoire; no piano

Donated by McDonald Leong Lawyers

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
184 Bowed String Orchestra B Grade Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 2.5 & under repertoire; no piano

Donated by Arties Music

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
Year 6 & Under
185 Bowed String or Guitar Orchestra Group     Year 6 & Under

Time Limit: 04:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Level 1.5 & above repertoire; no piano

Donated by Townsville & District State Schools Music Council

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
186 Beginner Bowed String or Guitar Orchestra Group     Year 6 & Under

Time Limit: 03:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Piano accompanist optional. Level 1 & under repertoire.

Donated by Stephen de Jersey, Architect

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
Age 18 & Under
187 Symphony Orchestra Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 06:00

Min 13 Max 80 members

The John Fulton Trophy

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC          
188 Guitar Orchestra Group     Age 18 & Under

Time Limit: 05:00

Min 13 Max 80 members; Acooustic guitars plus optional Bass guitar

Entry: $18.001st Trophy          2nd Trophy          3rd Trophy          HC