The Great American Brass Band Festival

HOW DOES MY GROUP GET CONSIDERED FOR THE GABBF?

10.1.2008

TO: Name of Group

RE: Applying for Performance at The Great American Brass Band Festival

Thank you for your interest in The Great American Brass Band Festival. The selection process of performing groups takes the form of a rigorous review of the various types of groups featured throughout the four-day event. The term ‘brass band’ has many meanings, and so applicants should understand that this festival presents ‘brass’ groups of the widest range: modern concert wind bands (community, professional, military), modern concert brass bands (British instrumentation, both NABBA and Salvation Army), chamber brass ensembles (for example, quintets), symphonic brass choirs, jazz-style brass bands (ala New Orleans-style), outstanding brass soloists, ragtime ensembles, and other related combinations.

Striking the correct balance among these types makes the Festival appeal to the tens of thousands that gather each year in Danville, Kentucky.

Each applying group, however, should bear the following in mind:

1. The Festival primarily contracts professional ensembles and soloists.
2. The Festival chooses British-style brass bands from the North American Brass Band Association based on the previous year’s Championship results. While the GABBF reserves the right to feature additional NABBA bands, it is a rare occurrence.
3. The Festival chooses the representative Salvation Army brass band in consultation with its territorial music directors.
4. On any given year it is rare to have more than two representative groups from a given type or ensemble. For example, usually no more than two Civil War or historical instrument ensembles feature in a given year, no more than 2 brass quintets.
5. It is rare for a group to return on successive years. Even guest professional groups and soloists rotate. There are exceptions, such as our festival’s host band, The Advocate Brass Band.
6. Concerts at the GABBF last 50 minutes, with a recommended maximum of 40 minutes of music, plus any announcing, movement, setups. Musical items rarely exceed six minutes in length. The GABBF is an outdoor, entertainment festival.
7. The Festival will offer each invited musical ensemble a monetary grant to assist with travel and expenses. The Festival may also provide free lodging in Centre College dorms. All travel and meal expenses are the responsibility of the performing group.

If you would like to be considered for the 2009 Festival (June 11—14, 2009), then please submit the following materials to the Executive Director by December 1st, 2008. This list may be viewed as a check list for applicants:

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A compact disc recording and accompanying printed program from a concert recorded after January 1, 2008.

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If possible (not required), a DVD of the same concert, or other recent concert.

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Up to four representative concert programs from the past two years.

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List of projected membership should your group be chosen

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A current photograph and related press materials on group, soloists, and leaders.

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A sample, draft of a timed, 50-Minute concert (See attached form) that represents what your ensemble could present at the GABBF. This would include a maximum of 40 minutes of music, with timings, composer—arranger listed for each item.

Due to the dated nature of each application, a group not accepted on any given year may apply again by submitting updated materials. The group will be notified whether they are accepted or not by February 1, 2009.

For further information and an overview of the festival, please visit our website: www.gabbf.org

Please send all your materials to my attention at:

The Great American Brass Band Festival
105 East Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Thank you for considering our Festival. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the application process.

Sincerely,
John Albright, Steering Committee Member

Enc: Sample Program Representing What Your group could present during a typical 50- minute concert (40 minutes of music)

Att: Sample Program form (see next page)

Att: Sample Program [SEPARATE PAGE—EXPAND TO FULL SIZE]

NAME OF MUSICAL ORGANIZATION_________________________________
MUSICAL DIRECTOR________________________________________________
EMAIL_____________________________PHONE__________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:

GABBF: SAMPLE DRAFT 50-Minute Program made up of approximately 40-Minutes of Music; (Note: Avoid pieces that exceed 6—7 minutes in length).

NOTE: Please identify any soloists that you feature, with the understanding that should your group be selected, these soloists will be present at the Festival

TITLE COMPOSER EXACT TIMING
TOTAL TIME OF MUSIC___________________