From festival director Gavin Staines

 

The Band Director,

I am writing to invite your Bands to participate in our North Shore Primary School Concert Band Festival at Chatswood High School from September 6th - 8th, 2019. An exciting feature of our festival each year is the opportunity to work with an Australian Composer. This years’ Festival will feature the music of local composer Tim Ferrier. Tim will be our special guest for this weekend and will enjoy the opportunity to listen to bands perform his music. Tim has composed the set piece for all grades.

The Festival will be held in five sections. Here is the suggested timetable:

C Grade (Level 1.5) – Friday September 6th, 4.30pm-5.45pm & 6.15pm - 7.30pm. Novice (Level .5) – Saturday September 7th, 1pm-2pm & 2.30pm-3.30pm B Grade (Level 2) – Saturday September 7th, 4.30pm-5.45pm & 6.15pm-7.30pm D Grade (Level 1) – Sunday September 8th, 1pm-2pm & 2.30pm-3.30pm A Grade (Level 2.5) – Sunday September 8th, 4.30pm-5.45pm & 6.15pm-7.30pm

Each time slot allows for four bands.

We ask you to nominate the time(s) that will best suit your school. (a school that applies early is more likely to get their preferred times!)

All Bands are required to perform 3 pieces:

- the set work composed by Tim Ferrier

- two own choice pieces of similar standard.

The set pieces for each Grade are as follows:

Novice (Level .5) - Crestwood March
D Grade (Level 1) - Rock 101
C Grade (Level 1.5) - A Story to Tell
B Grade (Level 2) - Tumba Rumba
A Grade (Level 2.5) - Danzon

The set pieces can be purchased direct from Tim at timferriermusic.com

You should also be able to hear recordings of the pieces. Tim can be contacted on 0402842410 or by email at timferrier@yahoo.com.au

Band Directors James Brice (Knox Grammar) and Josh Mann (Newington College) have again been invited to come and conduct workshops, and write comments for band directors.

At the Festival we would like every Band to perform to a full hall. We expect every musician to stay for the duration of their section - approximately one hour; and we would like the parents to come and support, and listen. All band members are asked to listen to the other bands in their section and can be expected to complete a survey on the music that they hear.

We are also keen to encourage the young composers in our bands. A composition task will be emailed to bands prior to the festival, giving children the opportunity to compose a piece of music for our resident composer Tim Ferrier. There will be a limit to the number of Bands performing in each section. An invitation to participate will be extended to all schools in the Region. Should vacancies still exist other Bands will be invited to perform. The cost for a Band to participate will be $85. I would like to suggest a minimum size of 20 children in a band. There will also be a door cost for the audience - $6 for Adults, and $3 for Concession.

Tim, James, Josh and I will run a Festival that will be of interest and educationally worthwhile for all participating musicians. We look forward to hearing your Band. Please call 0410496303, or email me, should you have any questions. Entries close by Friday July 5th, 2019, however I would encourage you to enter as soon as you know that your school is going to participate. Priority for entry times will be given to schools who lodge their application early!

To enter email GAVIN.STAINES@det.nsw.edu.au to receive an entry application. Then either scan & email your application, or post to –

North Shore Primary School Concert Band Festival,
c/- Gavin Staines
4 Curtis Close,
Cherrybrook, 2126

Then to pay your entry fee, phone Chatswood High School – 94193611, and ask for school finance (Sarah) and pay by credit card. Or, upon receiving your application I will ask Chatswood High School to email your school a Journal Entry Request Form (Inter School Journal).

Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Gavin Staines OAM
Chatswood High School.
2/2/2019