2025 Syllabus - School Classes
Important Notes for School Entries:
- In all school classes, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit Awards will be assessed based on the ensemble or soloist's ability to perform their chosen repertoire, and not based on a comparison between the entrants in the class.
- In classes with codes beginning with "P", entrants who earn a Gold Award will win a $50 prize.
- For school classes with trophies, adjudicators will explain their musical reasons for selecting trophy winners to the entrants and audience, at the time when the trophies are presented.
- Schools may enter multiple ensembles or soloists in one class.
- Popular music and show tunes should be avoided in secondary school band, choir, and orchestra classes, unless otherwise specified the in class description.
- For performances that require accompaniment, live accompaniment is preferred when possible. Recorded accompaniment may be used, provided that the teacher/entrant brings all required technology needed to play their accompaniment.
- For scheduling purposes, it is important that teachers enter the approximate number of students in their ensembles when registering.
Bands
| Class | Earlybird | |
|---|---|---|
| Class:P13101 - Secondary School Class A Bands (Senior) - Winner Finlay Carroll Memorial Trophy Perform two own-choice selections. The first selection must be on the B400 (or higher) Syllabus. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. The second selection should be of a lyrical nature (or contain a significant portion of lyrical music). The lyrical selection may be at one level lower than the first selection. Total time limit 20 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13102 - Secondary School Challenge Class A Bands - Winner Martin Boundy Memorial Trophy Perform one selection. The repertoire selected should be equivalent to the B400 level or higher. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. This class is only open to ensembles that participated in Class A Bands. Total time limit 15 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13103 - Secondary School Class B Bands (Senior) - Winner Kiwanis Trophy Perform two own-choice selections. The first selection must be on the B300 (or higher) Syllabus. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. The second selection should be of a lyrical nature (or contain a significant portion of lyrical music). The lyrical selection may be one level lower than the first selection. Total time limit 15 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13104 - Secondary School Challenge Class B Bands Perform one selection. The repertoire selected should be equivalent to the B300 level or higher. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. This class is only open to ensembles that participated in Class B Bands. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13105 - Secondary School Class C Bands - Winner Needham Trophy Perform two own-choice selections. The first selection must be on the B200 (or higher) Syllabus. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. The second selection should be of a lyrical nature (or contain a significant portion of lyrical music). The lyrical selection may be one level lower than the first selection. Total time limit 15 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13106 - Secondary School Bands - Canadian Composition - Winner Michael Lewis Trophy Perform one Canadian composition for band. Repertoire selected must be at the B200 level or higher. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. Open to Grades 9-12. Total time limit 15 min. If no ensembles enter this class, the strongest performance of a Canadian composition in the A, B, C, or Challenge classes will be awarded the trophy. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13107 - Secondary School Bands - March Class - Winner Lewis Trophy Perform one concert march OR one street march. Repertoire selected must be at the B200 level or higher. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. Open to Grades 9-12. Total time limit 15 min. If no ensembles enter this class, the strongest performance of a concert or street march in the A, B, C, or Challenge classes will be awarded the trophy. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13108 - Secondary School Grades 9/10 Bands - Winner Scott Clark Trophy Perform two selections. One of the two selections must be on the B200 (or higher) Syllabus. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. The other must be at an equivalent level. Conductors are reminded that if they have Grades 11 & 12 students in their ensemble, they should enter the C (or higher) Class. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Register |
| Class:P13109 - Secondary School Challenge Class Grade 9/10 Bands - Winner Don McKellar Memorial Trophy Perform one selection. The repertoire selected should be equivalent to the B200 level (or higher). Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. This class is only open to ensembles that participated in the Grades 9/10 Band Class. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Register |
| Class:P13110 - Secondary School Grade 9 Bands Perform two selections. One of the two selections must be on the B100 (or higher) Syllabus. Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. The other must be at an equivalent level. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$40.00 | Register |
| Class:P13111 - Secondary School Challenge Class Grade 9 Bands Perform one selection. The repertoire selected should be equivalent to the B100 level (or higher). Use either the Ontario Band Association or MusicFest Nationals Syllabi. This class in only open to ensembles that participated in the Grade 9 Band Class. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$40.00 | Register |
| Class:P13112 - Secondary School Class A Jazz Bands (Grades 11/12) - Kiwanis Challenge Trophy Perform three contrasting selections. The repertoire selected must include a Swing, Ballad, and one own choice (e.g., Latin/Funk/Modern). To respect the musical goals and size of a standard jazz band, ensembles entering this class are required to stay within the following limits for each section: saxophones – no more than 8, trombones – no more than 5, trumpets – no more than 6. Larger bands may rotate members as needed to adhere to these guidelines. Directors are encouraged to choose repertoire that aligns with the level of their concert ensembles, i.e., bands entered in the A Class should be performing repertoire at a similar level with their jazz ensemble. Total time limit 20 min. | Earlybird:$60.00 | Register |
| Class:P13113 - Secondary School Class B Jazz Bands (Grades 11/12) - Winner Phil Murphy Rose Bowl Perform two contrasting selections. Repertoire selected must include a Swing and one own choice piece (e.g., Ballad/Latin/Funk/Modern). Directors are encouraged to choose repertoire that aligns with the level of their concert ensembles, i.e., bands entered in the B Class should be performing repertoire at a similar level with their jazz ensemble. Total time limit 15 min. | Earlybird:$55.00 | Register |
| Class:P13114 - Secondary School Jazz Bands (Grades 9/10) - Winner Gary Kerhoulas Plaque Perform two contrasting selections. Repertoire selected should be at a level appropriate to the students' development. Swing, Latin, Ballad, Funk and Modern jazz styles are strongly encouraged. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Register |
| Class:P13115 - Secondary School Jazz Combo Grades 11/12 - Winner London Jazz Society Plaque Perform two selections. Performances must include improvisation. Total time limit 15 min. | Earlybird:$55.00 | Register |
| Class:P13116 - Secondary School Jazz Combo Grades 9/10 Perform two selections. Performances must include improvisation. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Register |
| Class:P13117 - Elementary School Bands (Grades 8 & Under) Perform one or two selections at a level appropriate to the students' development. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$30.00 | Register |
| Class:P13118 - Elementary School Jazz Bands (Grades 8 & Under) Perform one or two selections at a level appropriate to the students' development. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$30.00 | Register |
| Class:P13119 - Elementary School Jazz Combo Grades 7/8 Perform one or two selections at a level appropriate to the students' development. Total time limit 10 min. | Earlybird:$30.00 | Register |