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.
| Timetable 2025 State Band Championships | ||
| Saturday 30 August | ||
| Section | Start Time | No of Bands |
| Open D Grade Brass | 9:00 AM | 6 |
| Junior C Grade Concert | 2:15 PM | 1 |
| Open A Grade Brass | 3:00 PM | 4 |
| Open B Grade Brass | 7:30 PM | 3 |
| Sunday 31 August | ||
| Section | Start Time | No of Bands |
| Open C Grade Brass | 8:30 AM | 7 |
| Junior C Grade Brass | 1:10 PM | 1 |
| Open D Grade Concert | 2:00 PM | 1 |
| Open C Grade Concert | 2:45 PM | 1 |
| Open B Grade Concert | 3:50 PM | 2 |
| Open A Grade Concert | 5:20 PM | 1 |
Meet our adjudicators
John Saunders
Sections: Open Brass, Junior Brass, Junior Concert
John Saunders was born into a musical family, being given Piano instruction from his father Jack, from about age 3. John saw the light at about age 9 and started playing Brass, also taught by his father. John found himself most comfortable behind a Euphonium, being named NSW Euphonium Champion about 7 or 8 times and was National Champion in 1986 and 1988. He was also winner of the prestigious Ern Keller Competition, for Australian and New Zealand brass players in 1998. John gained his A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A on Euphonium in the late 1990’s.
John became a full-time member of the NSW Police Band in 1988. The NSW Police Band is a 30 piece professional Concert Band based in Sydney. He was privileged to be named Director of Music of the band in 2005, a position he holds to this day. On Euphonium and Baritone John was a member of every Australia Brass and National Australia Brass course from 1995 till 2016.
John was a founder member of the Warringah Concert Brass, formed by his father Jack, in 1979, becoming Musical Director in 1999. This position gives John a chance to mentor many amateur musicians, of all standards, a responsibility he finds very important and rewarding. Under John’s direction Warringah were named NSW State ‘A’ grade Champions in 2009, 2017 and 2018.
John maintains his brass teaching across a wide range of ages and abilities. He has also expanded his activities into the world of adjudicating, having adjudicated at the Western Australian State Band and Solo Championships, The City of Sydney Eisteddfod Brass Solo and School Band sections and the Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod.
Ken Waterworth
Sections: Open Concert
Ken Waterworth is widely acknowledged as one of Australia’s leading music educators and band directors, highly praised for his conducting, training and development of concert bands, and continues to be in high demand as a guest conductor, speaker and adjudicator both in Australia and overseas. Ken’s international reputation has resulted in conducting opportunities in the United States of America, Africa, China and the United Kingdom.
Ken recently concluded work as the Manager for the Worship Arts Department with The Salvation Army. Prior to taking up this position, he was Director of Music at Eltham High School where he played a significant role in the development and growth of the instrumental program. Ken established the school’s Symphonic Band as one of Australia’s finest school ensembles, resulting in an invitation to perform
at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. For many years Ken was a tutor and conductor for Melbourne Youth Orchestras, culminating in the position of Chief Conductor of the
Melbourne Youth Symphonic Band, touring Japan and winning the National Band Championships with this band.
Ken was appointed musical director of The Salvation Army’s premier ensemble, the Melbourne Staff Band, in June 1994 and retired from that role in 2024, after 30 years of outstanding leadership. As musical
director of the Melbourne Staff Band, Ken achieved the highest standards of musicianship and music ministry, providing an outstanding model for The Salvation Army bands throughout Australia and around the world. Throughout his period of leadership, Ken was recognised world-wide as an innovator, which saw the Melbourne Staff Band at the cutting edge of brass band music making in The Salvation Army.
Ken’s passion for mentoring and developing young musicians has continued to be a priority following his successful teaching career, where he was recognised with numerous awards for his outstanding leadership and development in music education – some of which being an Australia Day Award for his service to the community and arts, the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal for outstanding leadership and development in music education, an Australian Band and Orchestra Association excellence award and selection as a finalist in the Victorian “Teacher of the Year” awards