The Melbourne School Bands/Strings Festival was a two-week program where school bands mainly from metropolitan
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metropol ...
, as well as country
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
and interstate, gather to perform, listen and participate in tutorials. The Festival has an education focus. All ensembles receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, Merit or Participation shield. The Melbourne School Band festival is the brain child of Barry Croll and Douglas Heywood who created the idea and event under the Music Junction Blackburn Banner in 1989 to support the ongoing development of music education in schools. The festival was produced and sponsored by Billy Hyde Music Foundation, until their parent company Billy Hyde went into liquidation in 2012.
In 2008, the Festival's 20th anniversary, over 300 concert bands, jazz ensembles and string ensembles performed at the Robert Blackwood Concert Hall and School of Music Auditorium,
Monash University
Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a ...
. Since the inception of the festival in 1989 the number of students electing to learn an instrument through their school music program has increased substantially. The festival is now one of Australia's most prestigious musical events for school musicians.
The festival is designed to support and develop instrumental music education. Not only do students have the opportunity to perform at Australia's finest venues (acoustic-wise), but they receive adjudication from an outstanding panel of adjudicators.
The festival runs for two weeks until the Festival Finale on the last Saturday of August. The Finale showcases the most outstanding ensembles from the Festival and features the distribution of the awards.
In late 2012, Allans Billy Hyde music stores went into liquidation and the Billy Hyde Foundation now ceases to exist. While select Allans Billy Hyde stores live on through a new owner
the Melbourne School Bands Festival's fate is unknown.
Ensemble categories
Concert Bands
* Training Concert Band
* Novice Concert Band
* Junior Concert Band
* Intermediate Concert Band
* Symphonic Band
Jazz Ensembles
* Junior Jazz Ensemble
* Intermediate Jazz Ensemble
* Senior Jazz Ensemble
String Ensembles
* Beginner String Group
* Junior String Orchestra
* Senior String Orchestra
* Symphony Orchestra
* String Ensemble
Chief Adjudicators
Concert Bands
* 1989: Col. John Bourgeois, United States Marine Band, USA
* 1990: Col. John Bourgeois, United States Marine Band, USA
* 1991: Dr. Wayne Bennet, University of Oregon, USA
* 1992: James Swearingen, Composer, USA
* 1993: Col. John Bourgeois, United States Marine Band, USA
* 1994: Dr. Francis McBeth, Ouachita University, Arkansas, USA
* 1995: Dr.
Barry Kopetz Barry E. Kopetz (born 1951), is a composer and music educator.
He was Head of the Music Department at Mississippi State University from 2014 until 2022. Prior to his appointment at Mississippi State, he was Director of Bands and Professor of Music ...
, University of Utah, USA
* 1996: Dr.
Barry Kopetz Barry E. Kopetz (born 1951), is a composer and music educator.
He was Head of the Music Department at Mississippi State University from 2014 until 2022. Prior to his appointment at Mississippi State, he was Director of Bands and Professor of Music ...
, University of Utah, USA
* 1997: Ed Huckeby, Composer, USA
* 1998: Dr. Ben Hawkins, Transylvania University, Kentucky, USA
* 1999: Ms. Paula A Crider, The University of Texas, USA
* 2000: Dr. Rob McWilliams, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA
* 2001: Mr. Richard L Floyd, University of Texas, Austin, USA
* 2002: Mr. Robert W Smith, Composer, USA
* 2003: Mr. Ken Waterworth, Australia
* 2004: Mr. John M Laverty, Syracause University, USA
* 2005: Ms. Paula A Crider, The University of Texas, USA
* 2006: Mr. Thomas V Fraschillo, University of Southern Mississippi, USA
* 2007: Mr. Jeff King, USA
* 2008: Mr. Don Wilcox, West Virginia University (ret.), USA
Jazz Ensembles
* 1997: Mr. Gil Askey, USA
* 1998: Mr. Jeff Jervis, USA
* 1999: Mr. Doug Beach, Elmhurst College, Illinois, USA
* 2000: Mr. Daryl McKenzie, Australia
* 2001: Mr. Reg Walsh, Australia
* 2002: Mr. Patrick Crichton, WAAPA, Australia
* 2003: Mr. J Richard Dunscombe, Composer, USA
* 2004: Mr. Monte H Mumford, Australia
* 2005: Mr. Steve Newcomb, Australia
* 2006: Mr. Dean Sorenson, University of Minnesota, USA
* 2007: Mr. Victor Lopez, USA
* 2008: Mr. Brad Millard, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
String Ensembles
* 2000: Mr. Michael Loughlin, Australia
* 2001: Mr. Willem van der Vis, Australia
* 2002: Ms. Andrea Keeble, Australia
* 2003: Mr. Peter Bandy, Australia
* 2004: Ms. Christine Belshaw, Australia
* 2005: Mr. Mark Drummond, Australia
* 2006: Ms. Kim Waldock, Australia
* 2007: Ms. Loreta Fin, Australia
* 2008: Mr. Malcolm Yuen, Australia
References
External links
* {{Citation
, url = http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/festivals/index.cfm?action=melbfestival Billy Hyde Festivals page
, archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070902002303/https://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/festivals/index.cfm?action=melbfestival
, archivedate=2007-09-02
, url-status = dead
, title = Billy Hyde Music : Festivals
Music festivals in Melbourne
1989 establishments in Australia
Music festivals established in 1989