Home - Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival

Welcome to ASBOF 2025

The Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival is open to all school wind, brass, and big bands, string ensembles and orchestras from across the planet and is held annually throughout July, August, and September.

We cater for ensembles of all ability levels and, with over 10,000 students performing at our event each year, we are one of the most significant music education events in Australia.

So, whether your ensemble is newly formed or has been playing for years, get on board and join the fun of the Festival. Read about us on this site or contact us for further information to find out how you can be involved in the most inspirational event on the Australian school music calendar.

Are You a Regular
Festival Participant?

If you are a regular participant and have forgotten your login details you can recover them through the FORGOT PASSWORD facility in the MEMBERS AREA.

New to the
Festival?

If you are new to the Festival we will need to set you up with a login profile. Go to the REGISTER A NEW SCHOOL page, complete all details, and we will contact you shortly.

Looking for
Program Details?

Go to the Festival App to access performance details for all upcoming weekends.

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Secondary School Events

Concert Band Events

Sunday 22 June (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 27 July (T3 W1)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 24 August (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney

*The Grainger event will only be held on 22/6 and 27/7

Big Band Events

Sunday 27 July (T3 W1)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 24 August (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney

String Ensemble Events

Sunday 22 June (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 27 July (T3 W1)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 24 August (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney

Orchestral Events

Sunday 22 June (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 27 July (T3 W1)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
Sunday 24 August (T2 W8) – NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney

*On these weekends with multiple venues the Festival GM will allocate final performance locations based on entry patterns

Important Closing Dates

Earlybird Cut-off: Friday 14th March
General Entry Cut-off: Friday 2nd May

If you don’t see a suitable date here for your ensemble, contact the GM to see how we might assist. We want everyone to be involved.

Full List of In Venue Events

Primary School Events

Concert Band Events

Sunday 3 August (T3 W2) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 10 August (T3 W3) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, Wenkart Theatre Knox Grammar School
Sunday 31 August (T3 W6) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 14 Sept (T3 W8) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 21 Sept (T3 W9)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, The Leighton Hall UNSW Kensington

*The Lithgow event will only be held on 3/8

Big Band Events

Sunday 3 August (T3 W2) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 10 August (T3 W3) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 31 August (T3 W6) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 14 Sept (T3 W8) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 21 Sept (T3 W9)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, The Leighton Hall UNSW Kensington

String Ensemble Events

Sunday 3 August (T3 W2) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 21 Sept (T3 W9)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, The Leighton Hall UNSW Kensington

Orchestral Events

Sunday 3 August (T3 W2) – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington
Sunday 21 Sept (T3 W9)* – Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Kensington, The Leighton Hall UNSW Kensington

*On these weekends with multiple venues the Festival GM will allocate final performance locations based on entry patterns

Important Closing Dates

Earlybird Cut-off: Friday 14th March
General Entry Cut-off: Friday 2nd May

If you don’t see a suitable date here for your ensemble, contact the GM to see how we might assist. We want everyone to be involved.

Full List of In Venue Events

2025 Online Events

We will continue to run a full range of online events for:

Primary school

Concert Bands/Wind Bands
Big Bands
String Ensembles
Orchestras

Secondary school

Concert Bands/Wind Bands
Big Bands
String Ensembles
Orchestras

Online Entry Cut off Dates

General Entry – Friday 5th September

Video Upload Date – Friday 5th September

*This date is negotiable for international ensembles

Entry Options

Adjudication Plus Trophy

All ensembles entering the Adjudication Plus Trophy section of the Festival will receive the confidential audio adjudication comments from a member of our highly acclaimed panel of adjudicators. In addition to receiving the adjudication, these ensembles will be awarded a GOLD, SILVER, or BRONZE rating which will be publicly announced and displayed on our website. There is an additional cost to the entry fee for the award which will be included at the checkout stage of entry.

Adjudication Only

All ensembles will have the opportunity to enter the Festival as an educational experience only and receive the confidential audio feedback from a member of our highly acclaimed panel of adjudicators. No award will be presented and no public announcement as to the level of performance will be made. Adjudication Only ensembles entering the Online section of the Festival will still be eligible for participation in the online streaming event. A PARTICIPATION plaque can also be requested for ensembles which would like to commemorate their participation in the event. Please contact the Festival GM for more information.

ASBOF Full Event and Venue Summary

ASBOF Entry Fees (In-venue and Online)

ASBOF Event Criteria (In-venue and Online)

ASBOF GENERAL FESTIVAL CONDITIONS

ASBOF ONLINE FESTIVAL CONDITIONS

Festival Background

The first school Band Festival was organised by the Band Association of NSW in 1962. Held at Chatswood Oval, eight brass brands initially took part and a diagram march was compulsory.

Festival Patron

Dr Anita Collins is an award-winning educator and researcher in music education and its impact on brain development. She is known for her role as onscreen expert in the ABC documentary, Don’t Stop the Music.

Festival Board

The Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival (NSW School Band Festival Ltd) is a company limited by guarantee and is registered as a tax deductible entity on the Federal Register of Cultural Organisations.

Festival Venues

The Sydney
Conservatorium of Music

Close to the Sydney Opera House and surrounded by the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music is located at the heart of Sydney’s cultural precinct on Macquarie St and is easily accessible by public transport. Click below for more about The Con.

Sir John Clancy
Auditorium, Kensington

The Sir John Clancy Auditorium (University of NSW) is the eastern suburbs’ largest public auditorium and is ideally suited for our Festival. Entrance if off High St and is 1 minute walk from the Kensington High St light rail stop. Click below to find out more about The Clancy.

Wenkart Theatre
Knox Grammar School

The Wenkart Theatre at Knox Grammar school is a state of the art auditorium ideally suited to our Festival. Entrance to the auditorium is off Woodville Ave. The venue is an easy 5 minute walk from Wahroonga Station. Click below to read more.

School Music Scholarships

The ASBOF offers a comprehensive list of schools currently offering Music Scholarships.
This list is updated regularly.

Festival Supporters

ASBOF hosts our first band from Taiwan

Rod Herbert Music

Jim Coyle