Ensembles £100 entry fee
Brass Ensemble
Open to any brass ensemble instrumentation — e.g. quartet, quintet, ten-part — with or without percussion. No age restriction. Performance time not to exceed ten minutes. Programme is entirely own choice.Woodwind Ensemble
Open to any woodwind ensemble instrumentation — e.g. quartet, quintet, octet — with or without percussion. No age restriction. Performance time not to exceed ten minutes. Programme is entirely own choice.Percussion Ensemble
Open to any percussion ensemble instrumentation — e.g. duo, trio, quartet, quintet. No age restriction. Performance time not to exceed ten minutes. Programme is entirely own choice.Bands £195 entry fee
Development Section
For bands in the very early stages of being a band, frequently with incomplete or imbalanced instrumentation. Bands perform an entirely own-choice ten-minute programme at a level which suits their current abilities — typically Grade 0.5 to Grade 1.0.Achieving School Band
For bands performing Grade 1 to Grade 2.5 repertoire. Bands perform an own-choice 15-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Advanced School Band
For school bands performing repertoire which is predominantly Grade 3 or higher. Bands perform an own-choice 20-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Developing Youth Band
For youth bands (players from more than one school) performing Grade 1 and Grade 2 repertoire. Bands perform an own-choice 15-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Advanced Youth Band
For youth bands performing repertoire at Grade 3 or higher. Bands perform an own-choice 20-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Community Band
For bands of people of all ages and abilities. Repertoire may be at any level. Bands perform an own-choice 20-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Open
For bands of advanced ability, typically performing repertoire at Grade 4 or higher. Bands perform an own-choice 20-minute programme; one piece must be selected from the SCBF Repertoire List.Includes at least one piece from the SCBF Repertoire List
Awards
Awards are made using a structured grid of seven levels of performance: Bronze, Bronze Plus, Silver, Silver Plus, Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum. More about these levels is on the Adjudication & awards page.
While band directors are encouraged to programme challenging “festival-type” repertoire, they can also choose to include one “entertainment” item, which may include any or all of acting, staging, choreography, dance, props and so on — as well as creating good music! An additional SCBF Entertainment Award is available for outstanding performances of this option.
Band directors may also choose to feature one of their aspiring players in a solo or concerto work. An additional SCBF Concerto Performance Award is available for outstanding performances of this option.
In association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, SCBF has awarded concerto performances to aspiring young musicians. This award, the Most Outstanding Soloist of the Year, is to perform a concerto accompanied by students of the RCS.
Interested?
Go on — give your band something to look forward to performing each year. This festival is a great motivational tool!
You can enter your band online for any of the regional festivals.
Nigel Durno, SCBF organiser