Do you sing or play a musical instrument?

Enter Central Coast Instrufest 2024

When: Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 October

Where: Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, 45 Mann Street Gosford

Central Coast Conservatorium of Music is launching the inaugural Central Coast Instrufest – a five-day competitive music festival being held at Robert Knox Hall, Gosford, from Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 October.

The school holiday competition is being sponsored by Central Coast Council and will be held across five days (with three sessions between 9am – 4pm) with age-based categories in vocal, piano, strings, guitar, brass, percussion and woodwind on the following days:

Piano – Tuesday 8 October 2024
Vocal – Wednesday 9 October 2024
Woodwind/Brass – Thursday 10 October 2024
Strings – Friday 11 October 2024
Percussion/Guitar – Saturday 12 October
Championship Showcase – Saturday 12 October (evening)

The performances will be judged by qualified adjudicators, with a selection of competitors being chosen to perform again in the Championship Showcase on 12 October. Prizes will be awarded at the Championship Showcase for most promising musicians.

Central Coast Instrufest is open to anyone aged five and over. This competition is about celebrating the joy of music and live performance, and we are looking forward to filling our Robert Knox Hall with the sounds of a wide variety of instruments. Most importantly this is about having fun, and for some, experiencing performing in front of someone else for the first time.

Registrations have now closed. All participants will be emailed details of their performance times. Please check your emails. For more information, phone 4324 7477 or email events@cccmusic.nsw.edu.au

Instrufest Timetable

Day	Date	Arrival time	Session Time	Finish time	Category	Section name
Tuesday	8/10/24	9am	9:30am	10:00am	Piano	U/9 (5 – 8) years category
Tuesday	8/10/24	9:45am	10:30am	12:30pm	Piano	U/13 (9 – 12 )years category
Tuesday	8/10/24	12:45pm	1:30pm	2:30pm	Piano	U/18 (13 – 18) years category

Wednesday	09/10/24	9:30am	10:00am	10:30am	Vocal	U/9 (5 – 8) years category
Wednesday	09/10/24	10:15am	11:00am	12:30pm	Vocal	U/12 (9 – 12 )years category
Wednesday	09/10/24	1:15pm	2:00pm	3:30pm	Vocal	U/18 (13 – 18) years category

Thursday	10/10/24	9am	9:30am	10:00am	Woodwind & Brass	U/9 (5 – 8) years
Thursday	10/10/24	9:45am	10:30am	12:30pm	Woodwind & Brass	U/12 (9 – 12 )years category
Thursday	10/10/24	1:15pm	2:00pm	3:30pm	Woodwind & Brass	U/18 (13 – 18) years category

Friday	11/10/24	9:15am	10:00am	10:30am	Strings	U/12 (9 – 12 )years category
Friday	11/10/24	10:15am	11:00am	12:30pm	Strings	U/18 (13 – 18) years category

Friday	11/10/24	1:15pm	2:00pm	3:00pm	Open	Open Adult Section (18+)

Saturday	12/10/24	11:30am	12:00pm	12:45pm	Guitar	U/18 (13 – 18) years category

Saturday	12/10/24	1:30pm	2:30pm	4:00pm	All	Grand Final Showcase Concert

Information for participants

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please note: Entry to the Conservatorium for Instrufest is via Georgiana Terrace driveway (not the front gate on Mann Street). This is to ensure ease of registration.

On the session day please have the students arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the concert to ensure that they are signed in at the Instrufest registration desk, have handed in their music for the adjudicator, are warmed up and ready to perform.

Make sure you bring a copy of music for the adjudicator with your name written in the top right corner.

Attendees, including participants and spectators, are kindly requested to stay in the hall throughout the concert to offer support to all performers and avoid causing disruptions.

**The winner of each section and stand out performers will be invited to take part in the Grand final showcase concert on Saturday 12 October at 2:30pm.**

NOTE: Audience members can purchase tickets for the Instrufest Grand Final Showcase Concert, $10, from this link

BACKING TRACKS

Backing tracks must not have any recorded vocals. Recorded backing tracks are to be uploaded to the Central Coast Instrufest Portal by Wednesday 2 October.

Files should be in MP3 format. Please use the following format when naming your file: Category_Entrant name_Item 1 (Title_Artist /Composer/Lyricist) ( eg :Contemporary Vocal_ Liz Star_Hurt_Christina Aguilera). All entrants should bring copies of all backing tracks on a USB, labeled as per the above, for contingency purposes.

ACCOMPANIST REHEARSALS

Step 1: Call accompanist Mathew Brooks, 0435 039 919.

IF YOU WILL BE USING YOUR OWN ACCOMPANIST PLEASE MAKE THAT CLEAR ON YOUR CONFIRMATION FORM.

Step 2: Email a copy of your music (if you are using the CCCM accompanist) to admin@cccmusic.nsw.edu.au. In the subject line please state “Instrufest music for accompanist. entrant name/ category name” example: “instrufest music for accompanist. Mary Smith/ Voice.

OR bring a copy of your music to the Conservatorium before your rehearsal for the accompanist to use, ensure it has your name on it if you want it returned to you.

Step 3: Pay your accompanist directly for your rehearsal.

There will be no fee for the accompanied performance on the concert day.

DRESS CODE:

Concert /Performance attire is expected to be an elegant/smart outfit that you feel good in.

Above all, allow for comfort and freedom of movement for the best possible performance.

ADJUDICATION CRITERIA

Judging criteria will be based on musicality, technical skill, interpretation, stage presence, and overall performance quality.

PLEASE BRING

You must bring a copy of your music for the adjudicator on the day with your name written in pencil on the top right hand corner of the sheet music.
If using a backing track please bring a backup copy on a USB stick.
Refillable water bottle

Water bottles, tea, coffee and light snacks will be available for purchase in the courtyard on the day.

Any questions please reach out to our administration team on 4324 7477 or email events@cccmusic.nsw.edu.au

FAQs

When is Instrufest on?

The competition will be held from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 October 2024 with sections on the following days, between 9am and 4pm (times tbc).

Piano – Tuesday 8 October
Vocal – Wednesday 9 October
Woodwind/Brass – Thursday 10 October
Strings – Friday 11 October
Percussion/Guitar – Saturday 12 October

The final Championship Showcase will be held at Robert Knox Hall on the evening 12 October 2024.

Where is it being held?

Central Coast Instrufest will be held in Robert Knox Hall, Central Coast Conservatorium, 45 Mann Street, Gosford.

Who can enter?

Central Coast Instrufest is open to anyone aged five and over (students and amateurs). The competition is not open to professional musicians.,

What are the instrument categories?

Central Coast Instrufest will be held across five days with aged-based categories in vocal, piano, strings, guitar, brass, percussion and woodwind.

Piano – Tuesday 8 October
Vocal – Wednesday 9 October
Woodwind/Brass – Thursday 10 October
Strings – Friday 11 October
Percussion/Guitar – Saturday 12 October

What are age/grade sections?

Sections in each instrument category will be determined once entries have been received. These will be determined on age and/or ability. Participants will be notified of their section and performance time via email by 1 October 2024 or before.

Do I need an accompanist?

A Central Coast Conservatorium of Music (CCCM) accompanist will be available for performers in all categories.

If a CCCM accompanist is provided for your event, there will be no charge on the day of your performance.

If you require a CCCM accompanist, please indicate this on your registration form.

CCCM accompanists can be contacted for rehearsal prior to your event. Once your section and time slot has been confirmed, CCCM will email you with the details of your accompanist.

Meeting with an CCCM accompanist outside of the event will be at your own negotiated cost and must occur on-site at Central Coast Conservatorium.

You must confirm with your accompanist; the repertoire you will be performing and in what event you will feature that repertoire. Entrants must provide a copy of their music to the accompanist prior to their performance date.

Can I use a backing track?

Vocalists and instrumentalists can use a recorded backing track.

Please indicate on your registration form if a recorded backing track will be provided.

Backing tracks must not have any recorded vocals. Recorded backing tracks are to be uploaded to the Central Coast Instrufest Portal no later than 10 days prior to the event.