Published: 17 May 2025

The National Band Council of Australia advises that nominations from interested persons are now being received for the position of President, Vice President and Executive Officer of the Council as outlined in the Council’s constitution.

Nominations should be directed to the Executive Officer addressing the criteria as shown below, and all nominations MUST be received 5pm AEST on Saturday, 7th June.

Nominations should comply with NBCA Rule 14, in particular 14.6.1 and 14.6.2. These rules can be referenced in the constitution which can be accessed here.

Nominations must be submitted in writing and be accompanied by the written support of the candidate’s State or Territory Governing Body. The nomination must also be seconded in writing by another State or Territory Governing Body.

Please email applications to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Megan Stapleton
Executive Officer
National Band Council of Australia Inc.

CRITERIA:

President

• Work collaboratively with Council to determine the vision and strategic goals of the NBCA.
• Take a leading role in negotiations and interactions with other organisations.
• Oversee the creation and implementation of relevant policies and plans to achieve the goals of the NBCA.
• Be the effective and professional public spokesperson for the NBCA.
• Demonstrated experience in the context of Australian Banding and awareness of issues relevant to community music.
• The ability to solve problems, find consensus and facilitate collaboration within the NBCA and the wider banding movement.
• A range of skills that could be gainfully employed to advance the vision and objectives of the NBCA.
• Proven ability to negotiate issues and find outcomes.
• A high standard of spoken and written communication skills, and the confidence to speak publicly on behalf of the NBCA.
• A broad network of established contacts and connections within the banding movement and the wider community.
• Experience and proven ability to chair effective and efficient meetings of the NBCA.
• Proven ability to be organized, meet deadlines and balance competing and completing issues.
• Approach the role with balance, perspective and empathy to a wide range of people.

Vice-President

• Demonstrated experience in the context of Australian banding.
• Assist the President to achieve the objectives of the NBCA in a supportive role.
• A range of skill to compliment those of the President.
• A high standard of spoken and written communication skills, and the confidence to speak publicly on behalf of the NBCA.
• Experience with the NBCA in a significant role in a state governing body.
• Act on behalf of the President as required.
• Undertake any other duties delegated by the President or the Council.
• Approach the role with balance, perspective and empathy to a wide range of people.

Executive Officer

• Demonstrated experience in the context of Australian banding.
• A high standard of spoken and written communication skills.
• Keep a correct record of all proceedings, receive all correspondence of the Council, keep a list of delegates, affiliated state secretaries and recommended adjudicators.
• Keep correct books and accounts showing the financial affairs of the Council including full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the Council.
• Undertake any other duties delegated by the President or the Council.
• Approach the role with balance, perspective and empathy to a wide range of people.
• Proven ability to be organized, meet deadlines and balance competing and completing issues.

Published: 20 April 2025

Australian banding identity Joe Cook was inducted as the inaugural recipient of the NBCA Meritorious Service Award during the ‘Premier’ Grade awards ceremony at the conclusion of the Australian National Band Championships in Melbourne on Sunday evening.

The newly instigated NBCA Meritorious Service Award recognises distinguished, special or long-term service, resulting in a significant contribution, to community banding in Australia through a band or organisation registered with an affiliated State Governing Body.

Joe began playing in community bands in 1961 with St Marys District Band, and over the sixty plus years that have passed since then, has contributed to community banding across Australia as a player, mentor, conductor, adjudicator, composer and arranger.

This includes twenty three years service with the Australian Army Band Corps, as well as time with the St Marys Band, Queanbeyan RSL Brass, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Hawthorn City Band, Perth City Band, Midland Brass, City of Holroyd Brass Band, Footscray-Yarraville City Band, Glenorchy City Concert Brass, Hobart City Brass, Hobart City Band (now the Hobart Wind Symphony), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Australian Show Band, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Derwent Valley Concert Band, Derwent Symphony Orchestra, Huon Valley Concert Band, Island Brass Academy, Hobart Chamber Orchestra, University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music ensembles, Solitaire Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, Low Key Brass, Tasmanian Jubilee Brass and National Australia Brass.

Joe is an exemplary soloist. This is best demonstrated through his involvement with the Ern Keller contest (participation in which requires winning the Champion of Champions event at either the State or National level). Joe competed in the Ern Keller in 1977, 1985 (winner of the Ern Keller Memorial Trophy), 1998, 1999, 2001 (winner of the Ern Keller Memorial Trophy), 2002, 2003 (winner of the Ern Keller International Soloist of the year), 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011 (winner of the Ern Keller Australasian Soloist of the year) and 2013. 2008 and 2010 weren’t on that list, but Joe also won the Open Brass Champion of Champions for Tasmania for those years too.

There are currently 88 compositions and arrangements by Joe in the library of the Glenorchy City Concert Brass, and over 30 compositions and arrangements lodged with the National Library of Australia. Joe has restored new or refocused life into older works through his arrangements, and his compositions have included poignant snapshots of Tasmanian community and events.

At the national level, Joe’s arrangements and compositions – ‘New Prince, New Pomp’, ‘Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)’, ‘The Cataract’, ‘The Reason’ and ‘Earl’s Court’ – have been performed by contesting bands at the Australian National Band Championships. A particular favourite, Joe’s arrangement of ‘Be Thou My Vision (Slane)’ has been contested six times at the contest. Two of his marches, ‘Keighley Moor’ and ‘Taskforce’, are on the NBCA’s Prescribed March List and are often selected for performance at state and national titles.

The Tasmanian Bands League are extremely proud to nominate Joe Cook for this award. Joe is the very personification of “a bandsperson” – a brass champion, a concert champion, composer and an arranger.

Congratulations Joe.

Published: 24 August 2024

At the 2024 NBCA Annual Conference it was decided that a one-year trial of five Open Brass grades will be conducted at the 2025 Nationals in Victoria.

The decision to trial an extra Open Brass grade named Open Premier Grade Brass was made as a result of feedback from adjudicators and participating bands about the apparent disparity between the playing standards of top-ranked and bottom-ranked bands competing across all Open Brass grades and in light of the relatively large number of bands in the higher grades.

To create the Open Premier Grade Brass, the top five placed bands from Open ‘A’ Grade Brass at the 2024 Nationals will be automatically promoted. It is then up to each state to determine the gradings across the five grades for their remaining bands.

Open Concert will remain with four grades, but in recognition of the parity of standard between the top brass and concert bands, Open ‘A’ Grade Concert will become known as Open Premier 'A' Grade Concert. Open 'B', 'C' and 'D' Grade Concert will remain the same.

This change will be implemented with a view to achieving the following goals:

• The standard of bands across each grade will be much closer together making for closer competition, and the majority of bands in each grade being more competitive.
• A more manageable and sustainable grading system where bands who are regraded, either up or down, have a chance to still be competitive and continue improving whilst still participating positively in contests.
• Test pieces can be chosen to suit the standard of grades rather than having to make do with pieces to fit such a huge range of bands in each grade.

The grading of bands will be determined as follows for Year One:

• Open Premier Grade Brass: Top five places in Open ‘A’ Grade Brass at the 2024 Nationals plus each State Governing Body can choose to nominate one additional band (maximum of ten bands in the grade in Year One).
• Open ‘A’ Grade to ‘D’ Grade Brass: States to provide a national grading for their bands to enter. Following the trial, a full review will be conducted by the NBCA in consultation with the competing bands.

Published: 16 June 2024

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The 2025 National Band Championships will be held in Melbourne. The exact venue is yet to be confirmed but will be announced very soon.

FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

Unfortunately due to venue and accommodation issues in Bendigo, the decision has been made to move the 2025 National Band Championships to Melbourne. This decision was not made lightly and we are grateful to the Bendigo City Council for their support but unfortunately the event was no longer viable. Our first priority is to ensure that the 2025 National Band Championships is a successful and well attended event and we feel the only way to achieve that is by moving the event to Melbourne. We look forward to welcoming bands from around Australia to Melbourne at Easter 2025.

Published: 20 November 2023

It is with regret that we write to inform you that the Band Association of NSW is no longer a member of the National Band Council of Australia due to failing to pay their NBCA affiliation fee per clause 3.1.5 of the NBCA Constitution.

We’d like to reassure all bands affiliated with the Band Association of NSW that they are definitely still able to take part in the 2024 Australian National Band Championship by registering with any NBCA affiliated State Band Association (Queensland Band Association, South Australian Band Association, Tasmanian Bands League, Victorian Bands’ League, Western Australian Band Association).

Should you wish to contact us regarding this matter, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

National Band Council of Australia

Published: 14 October 2023

Following the success of Women In Brass in Brisbane 2022 and Melbourne 2023 we have decided to do it again, this time in Sydney.

We are calling for Expressions of Interest to be part of this dynamic event in Sydney 11th May 2024. Please fill out the Expression of Interest form and join the Facebook group Women In Brass.

Rehearsals will be Saturday, 4th May, Sunday, 5th May and concert day Saturday, 11th May.

The chosen players will receive access to their music by the end of the year. As rehearsal time is very limited, please have your parts fully prepared, prior to the first rehearsal so we can start shaping the music.

The objective of this band is to promote the talents of Australian female brass musicians and percussionists. We aim to inspire young female players and engage with community music groups nationally. Each year we will perform in a different state to allow for greater involvement across the country.

Below is a brief outline of the processes involved in the player section for Women In Brass:

• Expressions of Interest are sent out via the Women In Brass Facebook group as well as other banding pages.
• A selection panel including the appointed Musical Director(s) and organising committee assess the list using set criteria.
• The criterion for selection includes a number of factors: Who applies/player interest, player availability, player standard, and number requirements of each section.
• Players are contacted by the selection panel if they require more information.
• Previous acceptance into the group does not guarantee future acceptance.

Anyone who is traveling interstate to the event will be responsible for their own travel expenses as this is a charity event and we are unable to cover people's costs. To minimise accommodation costs, we are looking at the option of interstate players being billeted by NSW players. If this option interests you, please indicate it on the Expression of Interest form.

We look forward to making this another outstanding event to celebrate brass band music and bring Women In Brass together.

Marissa Clarke
Women In Brass Founder
Ph: 0408 748 052

Published: 21 July 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of Robert Bedwell OAM. Former President of the National Band Council of Australia.

Robert dedicated his life to teaching and making music. He was an ardent supporter of the Band Association of NSW and a prolific conductor whose career spanned over 25 years. He was at the helm of several bands, including the Central Coast Concert Band, the Forrest High School Bands, the City of Lake Macquarie Concert Band, and the Abbotsleigh Girls School Concert Band. He also established the Forrest Wind Orchestra. He mentored countless students and left an indelible mark on their musical education.

Robert was a highly successful conductor who won four Open National Band Championship titles in Open ‘D’ Concert, Open ‘C’, and Open ‘B’ Concert. He was also a respected adjudicator at several State and National Solo and Band Championships.

Robert served as the Band Association of NSW President from 1998 to 2005 and as the President of the National Band Council for two periods from 2005 to 2009 and then again from 2013 to 2015. He will be remembered for his great sense of humour, his Navy stories, and most of all, his passion and dedication to banding in NSW and across Australia.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Robert's family during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed.

Published: 15 May 2023

Join Women In Brass for an evening of fantastic music, featuring some of Australia's top female brass and percussion players. With a broad range of music on offer, there's something for everyone.

From traditional hymns to folk tunes, movie themes, classical arrangements and more, the repertoire is a great challenge for players, whilst also providing a varied program to keep you, the audience, on your toes.

If you've never heard a brass band perform, this is a fantastic opportunity to see the wide range of music styles that can be played by a brass group. And if you're an experienced 'brass-bandie', what better way to spend a Saturday night that supporting your fellow bandies and helping to celebrate just how far female banding in Australia has come.

The next concert is at 7pm, Saturday, 27th May 2023 at Huntingtower School, Mount Waverley, Victoria. Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased by visiting: https://womeninbrass.com.au/tickets/.