2025 State Band Championships
WHEN: August 30th and 31st, 2025
WHERE: The Capital Theatre, Bendigo (50 View St, Bendigo)
The VBL is pleased to announce that the 2025 State Band Championships shall be held in Bendigo on the weekend of the 30th and 31st of August.
The adjudicator for the event will be announced shortly.
Provisional Schedule
The provisional schedule for the 2025 State Band Championships is as follows. Please note that this schedule is not confirmed and changes are possible depending on entry numbers in each grade.
Saturday 30 August
- Junior Concert Bands
- Junior Brass Bands
- Open D Grade Brass Bands
- Open A Grade Brass Bands
- Open B Grade Brass Bands
Sunday 31 August
- Open Concert Bands
- Open C Grade Brass Bands
Entry Information
Entries close July 4th
Relevant entry information for the 2025 State Band Championships can be found below:
Entry Forms
Contest entry forms can be found above. Entries must be submitted by Friday July 4th
Entry Fees
Fees are able to be paid via direct debit, see the Contest Schedule for account information. The entry fee for the 2025 State Band Championships is $250.00
Scores & Synopses
A condition of entry into the State Band Championships is that all competitors must provide the VBL a copy of all scores which the band is competing with. Scores must have every bar numbered and all distinguishing marks removed. Bands should also prepare a short synopsis for each piece which will be read out to the audience during the competition. These must be received by Friday August 1st.
A physical copy must be posted to PO Box 394, Moonee Ponds, VIC, 3039
AND
A digital copy emailed to president@vbl.org.au
Scores and synopses must be emailed to the contest supervisor (president@vbl.org.au).
Player Registrations
All players competing on-stage must be registered with the VBL or the competing band will be disqualified. Most players will have been registered at the start of the year but any additional players will need to be registered by Friday August 15th.
Contest Declarations & Player Lists
Once all players have been registered, all competitors must complete their Contest Declaration & Player Lists and forward them to the registrar (registrar@vbl.org.au) by Friday July 12th.
Season Passes (for band members)
All competitors will be required to buy a ticket to listen to results on the day. The VBL is offering discount tickets to all competing band members who wish to listen to other bands. These Season Passes are valid for the entire weekend and are available for $5 each. Competitors will not be admitted to the auditorium without a valid ticket..
Season Pass orders should be received by the contest supervisor (president@vbl.org.au) by Friday August 15th.
Stage Plans
Stage plans should be received by the contest supervisor (president@vbl.org.au) by Friday August 15th.
Music Selection
The music selection for the 2025 State Band Championships is as follows:
Open Brass & Concert Bands
Must perform four pieces as follows:
• Major Work
• March
• Sacred Item/Hymn
• Own Choice
Junior Brass & Concert Bands
Must perform three pieces as follows:
• Major Work
• 2 x contrasting Concert Items
The set work for each of the following grades will be the Major Work as listed below:
Open A Grade Brass
Odyssey by Kevin Norbury
Open B Grade Brass
Ow’er ‘igh Street by Jared McCunnie
Open C Grade Brass
Journey to Alpha Centauri by Benjamin Tubb-Hearne
Open D Grade Brass
I, Daedalus by Andrea Price
Junior A Grade Brass
Service by Cally Bartlett
Junior B Grade Brass
New Beginnings by Frederick Schjelderup
Junior C Grade Brass
Pagan Songs by Etienne Crausaz
Open A Grade Concert
Three Dances of Enchantment by Luigi Zaninelle
Open B Grade Concert
Scenes from the Louvre by Dello Joio
Open C Grade Concert
Into the Sun by Jodie Blackshaw
Open D Grade Concert
The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed (Arr: Robert Longfield)
Junior A Grade Concert
Aurora Borealis by Rossano Galante
Junior B Grade Concert
Cape Breton Postcards by Catherine McMichael
Junior C Grade Concert
Chase at Midnight by Tim Fisher