PBF SYLLABUS

In general, we strongly encourage ensembles to perform no more than two pieces of music; in some cases even one longer or multi-movement work will be sufficient. At least one selection must be from either the 2025 OBA PBF syllabus (available below) or the 2025 MusicFest Canada concert band syllabus at the desired grade level for adjudication (i.e., the grade level at which the ensemble is registered). The other selection should be of contrasting material and should be at or around the same grade level as the syllabus selection. Finally, at least one of your selections must include substantial lyrical material. This can be a piece that is entirely lyrical or one that contains a substantial lyrical section or movement. For more details, please consult the 2025 PBF Director's Guide.

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Notes: If you are intending on taking your ensemble to MusicFest Nationals, that festival will require you to perform at least one selection from their syllabus (titles which are only on our PBF syllabus will not satisfy their requirement).  The OBA PBF syllabus requirement can be satisfied by choosing a title from either syllabus list, but the OBA only provides adjudicator scores for titles from our PBF syllabus, so you will be asked to provide two copies of the score for any pieces which are not on our syllabus, including any titles that are only on the MusicFest syllabus.