| |
| About Us |
| News |
| The Australasian Open |
| The Adjudicators |
| Registration |
| Members |
| Board Members |
| Contact |
| THE AUSTRALASIAN OPEN |
What is it?The Australasian Open is a Brass Band Contest for the best bands and bandsmen and women from Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Asia Pacific region. Invitations and or qualification requirements for organizations are set out below under a specific heading. This contest is as much for high profile players in non competing bands as it is for those in bands that have qualified.This contest is designed not to compete with either of the existing National Competitions in Australia and New Zealand. It is hoped that this contest will go a long way to assist in the strengthening of both National and regional/state contests in both countries. The initial 2008 contest will be a pilot study for the future involvement of lower grade bands. Where is it to be held?The inaugural contest is to be held at Twin Towns services club, Coolangatta on the Tweed Coast which is the coastal boarder between Queensland and New South Wales. Twin Towns has all the facilities of both performance venue and accommodation for all the invited bands. The venue has many eateries, bars, local entertainment and over looks the Tweed River and is less than 80 metres from the famous Kirra Beach. Twin Towns Services Club is also located within 3 kilometres of Cooloongatta airport which services all major Australian Cities as well as New Zealand. When is the event?The Australasian Open is to be held over the last weekend in October 2008 - 25 & 26 October, 2008. Who is to Host the Event?The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands Pty Ltd (FABB) is a private company that has been formed to run this contest and has the collaborative support of both the National Band Council of Australia (NBCA) and the Brass Bands Association of New Zealand (BBANZ). The company has a board of management that includes representatives of each of the aforementioned associations. Board members are unpaid. The company will operate on a not-for-profit basis with all or any profits being put back into the event so that it may grow in the future to include other grades. Why a private company?A company is better suited to the raising of capital. The day to day management of such an event becomes easier for a company with board members who are polarized in the one effort to carryout the objective’s of the company. What are the Objectives of the Company?The objectives of the company are quite simple in that the company wishes to reignite Brass Bands to the wider community by ensuring that the highest standard of music is achieved and delivered to a public audience as well as a television audience. The anointing of the Australasian Champion band is important but purely a byproduct of the Company’s main objective. The rules or lack of contesting rules is designed purely to assist in the achievement of the main objective. How will the objectives be achieved?The musical event will consist of two sections. The first section, the Australasian Open, will consist of one test piece for all bands. The Test Piece selected for the inaugural Australasian Open Championship will be ‘Music for Battle Creek’ by Philip Sparke. This will be followed by a 30 minute concert/entertainment program on the following day (televised) for public appeal. Each event will have its very own trophy and title. That is:
Each will be of equal importance and will carry a winners purse equivalent to AU$5,000. Current negotiations with cable television representatives are looking very promising. It is hoped that a professionally recorded documentary style program will kick off an annually televised series of concert programs. For example the entertainment programs will be of such a high standard that as many as 5 separate 40 minute programs may be constructed to go to air. Bands will be required to submit detailed programs in themed style to the organizers so that no one item is repeated. A strong and cohesive board of management working hard will produce the best effort possible and the chosen venue will add to the atmosphere of friendly rivalry as all bands will be accommodated at the one location. Who can qualify?Individuals: Whilst bands are the primary qualifiers to the event, bands are not able to be members or shareholders in the company. Bands must nominate their playing staff from individuals who are registered with FABB and hold a FABB identification tag. As no permit players are allowed in the contest’s operating rules (unless of an injury on the day of the contest), players who consider themselves to be able to play at the required level may wish to register with FABB in the event that bands may need extra players. The player list will have an individual’s player music profile and contact details and will be placed on the FABB website. Bands will be able to source players from the FABB database right up until Friday prior to the contest. Bands: Bands will be invited to attend the contest at the sole discretion of FABB but bands who are placed in the top 4 at either the National Band Championships of Australia or New Zealand and present themselves to play at their regional contest will be considered as top contenders. A band not attending its own regional or state contest will be viewed as a negative point when considering a bands invitation. Due to the variation in dates of contests across the Tasman, bands that are placed in the top 4 at the New Zealand National contest in the preceding year will also be considered to allow those bands maximum preparation time for fund raising. The national champions of Japan will also qualify for an invitation. The Board of Directors for FABB also reserve the right to create invitations to bands from any location that it believes deserves to be represented at the contest. There will be more information relating to policy statements, rules and contest infrastructure provided in due course. The board is aware that not releasing all the information at once will create many hypothetical discussions between bandsmen and women. The board believes this to be a healthy situation. Please feel free to make any comments to any of the board members and representatives at any time. What is the Test Selection for the Australasian Open event?
Who will be attending in 2008?The following bands have accepted invitations:
Who will Adjudicate in 2008?The Adjudicators will be:
The concert program only will be open adjudication. Information for Bands
|
