FABBFest Format
The musical event consists of two sections.
1. Yamaha Australasian Open - Test Selection
The first section, the Yamaha Australasian Open, consists of one test piece for all bands.
2. Yamaha Australasian Entertainment Championship
The Test is followed by a 30 minute concert/entertainment program on the following day, recorded in High Definition for possible use as a televised event, to promote public appeal.
Bands produce a themed 30 minute program including at least one brass soloist. Adjudication is open. The winner of the solo prize will get an auto entry to the Keller International Soloist of the Year event. Whilst slow melodies are welcome, to be considered for the Keller placing, the organizers of the Keller event recommend soloists at FABB to play a non-slow melody. FABB will sponsor the winner to the Keller by way of airfare and accommodation. It is the intention of FABB, that the Keller representative be a resident of Australasia. Should the solo prize go to a non-resident of Australasia, a Keller representative will be chosen separately.
Each event has its own trophy and title. That is:
Yamaha Australasian Open Champion; and
Yamaha Australasian Entertainment Champion
Each are of equal importance and carry a winners purse of AU$5,000.
Bands are required to submit detailed programs in themed style to the organizers so that no one item is repeated.
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 personnel from individuals who are registered with FABB and hold a FABB identification card.
As no permit players are allowed in the contest’s operating rules (unless 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 has an individual’s player music profile and contact details, and is accessible here. Bands are able to source players from the FABB database right up until Friday prior to the contest.
For the Australasian Open Championship, a maximum of thirty (30) brass players plus percussion is allowed.
Bands:
Bands are 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 are considered as top contenders.
A band not attending its own regional or state contest is 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 are also considered to allow those bands maximum preparation time for fund raising. The leading Japanese brass band is considered to 'qualify'.
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.
