All Ensemble Types: Conductor Scores for Adjudicators

• Two additional original (whether they are bound or licensed PDF) copies of each score are required for adjudication purposes. **Please note, we require all participants to provide ALL scores per above. The OBA/GHMF will not be hosting the use of any conductor scores for the 2027 Festival.

• “On backorder/order” letters, receipts, proof of payments are NOT accepted alongside illegal photocopied scores.

• If you are providing photocopies, these must be accompanied by a letter of licensing/reproduction permission from the **copyright holder only**. This is usually the publisher or the composer themselves (if it’s an independent composition). Retail stores **do not** have the authority to grant a permission to photocopy on behalf of a music publisher.

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All Ensemble Types: Length of Programme

As every group’s total stage time is about 23 minutes, we ask that you programme no more than 15 minutes of music. Please choose repertoire to fit within this general guideline. It is required that performance time (minutes of music) not exceed 15 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble’s time with the clinicians, and account for stage/seating/transition times between rooms. Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time so please budget your stage time accordingly.

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All Ensemble Types: Performance Classes/Levels

New for 2027 - All Performance Classes (Levels/Categories) are explained on our Phase One Registration Form

 

Concert Band

Which syllabus do I use?

Every year our teachers go through the understandable confusion of not knowing which syllabus to consult when selecting repertoire for the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. 

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With the growing number of titles on both the Musicfest Canada (The Nationals) list and the Ontario Band Association (OBA) list, it can only get more confusing. Participants are welcome to select repertoire from either list and are encouraged to consult both syllabi. 

Please note:​

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• Bands are required to perform selections at their class level. One selection should be from either the MusicFest Canada syllabus or the OBA Syllabus. Selections should be of contrasting styles.

• Typically, a band performing at the B100, B200, or B300 levels should prepare and present THREE pieces, not exceeding 15 minutes of music.

• B400, B500, and B600 Ensembles (or B300 with longer selections) are still working with the 15 minutes of music guideline/limitation. Therefore please present only two (2) selections in order to stay within the allotted stage/transition time and capitalize on time with the clinicians. Note that ONE of these pieces should be taken from either syllabus list.

• The GHMF does not currently have a Canadian content requirement however, MusicFest Canada – The Nationals DOES. It is possible for your ensemble to receive a MusicFest Canada invitation based on a programme WITHOUT Canadian content, however the GHMF recommends that you incorporate it whenever you are able.

• Bands are strongly encouraged, per above, to contrast their materials. As such, lyrical/slow music should appear at some point within your ensemble’s programme.

• Bands opting for a “clinic only” (NO RATING, NO MusicFest/Nationals Invitation capability) may play 2 or 3 contrasting selections of their own choice totalling 15 minutes (no syllabus requirement). Note that the “CLINIC ONLY” choice must be declared by the band director at the time of ensemble information form entry/submission.

• Bands may perform a short warm up which will not be adjudicated, if their stage time allows. This could be a scale pattern, or chorale, etc

• Pop/Movies/TV/Disney/Broadway selections will not be adjudicated, workshopped or rated and should not be programmed in a concert band entry at the GHMF.  Should these appear in a concert band’s festival programme, this could negatively impact your festival rating and these pieces will not receive feedback/clinic time, and the ensemble will not be considered for a MusicFest Canada invitation, as this is one of their main regulations. *Note this is ONLY for concert band. If you are bringing a jazz band, please review Jazz Band Repertoire regulations. Please also note: There are a very small number of syllabus-driven exceptions (ie Bernstein pieces in the upper grades)

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At any point during your programming process, if you have questions about the materials or if you are in need of recommendations, please contact Shashi at ghmf@onband.ca for assistance!

 

Click on the logo/icons below to review the most up-to-date *CONCERT BAND* syllabi from the Ontario Band Association and MusicFest Canada-The Nationals.

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​​Chamber Ensemble - Woodwind/Brass/Percussion

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• Chamber Group: 3 to 12 performers of brass, woodwind and/or percussion instruments

• Minimum group size should be able to reflect the musical intentions of the composer/arranger of the selections performed.

• Chamber Groups: Ensembles are required to perform two contrasting selections of their own choice. Please note: There is NO style requirement/restriction/guideline for this ensemble category.​​​​​​

 

Jazz Ensemble, Combo, Rock/Pop/World/Praise Bands: 

• Jazz Band: Minimum standard instrumentation recommended is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and 4 rhythm with no fewer than 10, nor more than 35, on stage at one time.

• Jazz Combo: No fewer than 2 or more than 9, plus two vocalists.

• Rock/Pop/World/Praise Bands: No fewer than 3 or more than 10, plus up to 4 vocalists.

• All groups should present a program of three contrasting selections with the opportunity for solo work.

• In combo classes, it is highly recommended that each member improvise.

• It is recommended that performance time not exceed 15 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble’s time with the clinicians and allow for venue travel time/transitions.

• Jazz Groups are encouraged to play pieces in 3 contrasting styles. There is no set syllabus list. Please note that Pop arrangements ARE ACCEPTABLE at the GHMF Jazz Band Festival. Also note that we do not currently have a Canadian content requirement at GHMF. However, should you participate in MusicFest Canada in May, you will need to prepare and perform a Canadian selection as per their regulations, so the GHMF does recommend getting into the practice of including a Canadian piece.

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String and Symphony Orchestra: 

• Orchestras are required to perform 2-3 selections of their choice, at their entered level, not to exceed 15-17 minutes total music time.

• There is no working syllabus for Strings ad Symphony. Please contact us at ghmf@onband.ca for some suggested resource lists and compendium suggestions.

• Please note, the Orchestra class categories are similar to concert band in terms of their relation to repertoire grading/level and difficulty. Example, if you have a senior/chamber strings group who is working on Grade 4 repertoire, your entry class would be S400.

• Orchestras may perform a short warm up piece which will not be adjudicated.

• Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time so please budget your stage time accordingly​​​​​​​​​​​​​