About 2600 people playing in 90 ensembles will take part in the bands and orchestras division of the 2015 Australian National Eisteddfod. Playing a wide range of music, they will come from Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and regional NSW. Events in the other eisteddfod categories - choirs, piano, singing, and speech and drama - will take place in August and September. The bands and orchestras division will take place in several venues including Llewellyn Hall and the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Simon Best is a member of Ginninderra Wind Orchestra and has been participating in the eisteddfod for 30 years on both sides of the stage. He's been one of a team of three convenors - along with Paul Barsdell and Ben Green - for 13 years.

Best says a new category this year is that of instrumental ensemble, encompassing such groups as guitar, string and cello ensembles.

On Friday night, the Open Concert and Brass Band sections will be staged at Llewellyn Hall. In the A grade, Canberra City Band, conducted by Geoff Grey, will play Leonard Bernstein's Slava arranged by Clare Grundman, Blithe Bells by J.S. Bach and Percy Grainger, transcribed by Robert Jager and Lonely Beach by James Barnes, about the D-Day landings in Normandy in World War II. Ginninderra Wind Orchestra, conducted by Debbie Masling, will play Satoshi Yagisawa'sZenith of the Maya and Canberra Brass conducted by Viv Martin will play Anthony Wakefield'sFanfare: Light Up the Torch, and George Lloyd's Diversions on a Bass Theme.

Entries in B Grade include South Canberra Youth Wind Orchestra, Young Music Society Wind Ensemble, Epping/Cheltenham High Schools (from Sydney) and Victoria Street Brass. Entries in C Grade include Tuggeranong Valley Band, John Agnew Band and St Bernard's College (from Melbourne).

Also among the bands competing will be one from Epping Boys High School in Sydney. Lindsay Frost, band director at the school, will be bringing his band to the eisteddfod for the fifth time this year.

Frost moved to Canberra in 1968 at the age of five and took advantage of the ACT's music education program throughout his schooling, studying flute, clarinet, piano and saxophone. He studied music education and saxophone at the ANU School of Music and played in pit bands for Canberra musical theatre productions as well as other ensembles.

He says it took him a little while to figure out what he wanted to do with his life: when he left school he worked for the Commonwealth Bank before deciding to undertake further musical studies.

"It's presented me with amazing opportunities," he says.

He's studied in the US and performed there and in Asia and worked on the 2000 Olympics. He's taught at a number of schools and joined Epping High in 2002, bringing bands in several years to the Eisteddfod.

And, he says, "Three years ago I adjudicated in Canberra - it was a great experience."

He thinks playing in eistedfodds is good for students.

"From a teaching point of view, it allows you to seek goals and deadlines," he says: repertoire must be learned and competition dates don't move.

It also provides opportunities for performers to play in public and to hear other musicians play.

"It's good for us to share our music with other people," he says. It's also a way to work out the players' strengths and weaknesses compared to other groups, though, like Best, he doesn't overemphasise the competitive element of the event.

As for what the future holds for him and his band, he doesn't want to speculate too much but says he will continue to support the National Eisteddfod when he can but is looking forward to a project he is not at liberty to discuss.

Could it be another overseas trip?

"Possibly."

S

Simon Best, says. " I am particularly pleased at the level of participation from Canberra

public high schools in recent years, as well as the continuing interest from local private schools, community

bands and interstate groups, with a total of almost 40 hours of performance involved", Mr Best adds. This

year school bands from Melbourne, Sydney, Dubbo and Young will be travelling to Canberra to take part.

Thursday 28 May 2015. For tickets to Llewellyn Hall events please call Ticketek on 132 849.

For further information, photo opportunities and interviews please contact:

Simon Best

Convenor (Bands & Orchestras)

Australian National Eisteddfod

Email: simon@nationaleisteddfod.org.au

Phone: 0403 827303