Australia tests new Premier Grade at National Championships — 4barsrest

The National Band Council of Australia (NBCA) has announced that it will trial a new system of five Open Brass classes at its 2025 National Championships in Victoria. There are currently four senior classes, A to D.

One year probationary period

The decision to conduct the one-year test was made at the 2024 NBCA Annual Conference.

NBAC stated that this was “the result of feedback from judges and participating bands regarding the obvious differences in the level of playing of the highest and lowest placed bands in all Open Brass classes and given the relatively large number of bands in the higher classes.”

A new Open Premier Grade Brass will include the top five placed bands from the Open A Grade Brass competition at the 2024 National Championships.

Each state will then determine the five grades for its remaining bands – including one additional band from each state in the new Premier Grade. The total will be capped at 10 bands.

Goal

The NBAC stated that the goal is to bring the level of bands in all classes “closer to intensify competition and make the majority of bands in each class more competitive.”

They added that they believed it would be “a more manageable and sustainable judging system where bands that are demoted, whether promoted or demoted, have the chance to continue to compete and improve while still actively participating in competitions.”

Test pieces and inspection

It was also announced that the audition pieces could be selected to “match the standard of the year groups, rather than having to settle for pieces that suit such a wide range of bands in each year group.”

Following the test, the NBCA will conduct a comprehensive review in consultation with the competing bands.