The second Australasian Open Brass Festival organised by the Federation of Australasian of Brass Bands (FABB) event will welcome seven bands to the Twin Towns Club and Resort next weekend, 23 - 25 October.

Chairman of FABB, Ric Casagrande said: "We thank the Bands from across four states for choosing to attend what is going to be a very exciting weekend of music."

"We warmly welcome several first time attendees including K&N Spring Gully Brass from Adelaide (Bruce Raymond), Gunnedah Shire Band (Nigel Weeks) and Kew Band Melbourne (Mark Ford) who are looking to take some of the $10,000 prize money home in either the Australasian Open or the Australasian Entertainment Open section."

Other bands entered are recently crowned NSW Champions Warringah Concert Brass (John Saunders) who impressed in the Entertainment section last year with a second placing, and St Marys Band Club (Paul Terracini) who were third in the Open Championship (Test) in 2008.

Much anticipation will surround the appearance of Footscray and Yarravile City Band who will take to the stage on Saturday to play the Test under the musical direction of the most successful conductor in Australian brass band history - Ken MacDonald. Regular MD Phillipa Edwards will then lead the band on Sunday in the Entertainment Championship.

Meanwhile Brisbane Brass return under the musical direction of Jon Christodoulides to be the only Queensland representative.

The Voice of Metal

Another event not to be missed is "The Voice of Metal" - the concert by National Australia Brass under the direction of Professor David King on Saturday evening.

"The concert will feature some wonderful new commissions as part of the programme," says Chairman Ric Casagrande, "and we hope that the event is well supported given the calibre and quality of the musicians involved."

Composers and Conductors Forum

In keeping with the philosophy of new ventures, the Australasian Band Composers and Conductors (ABC) Forum initiated by FABB Musical Advisor, Professor David King, and being presented by the Qdos Institute of Musical Arts, has attracted attendees from across Australian and New Zealand.

The ABC Forum for both composers and conductors directed by Professors David King and Peter Graham takes place on Friday 23 October.

With only a couple of places remaining, further information and bookings can be found at http://www.fabb.com.au/ABC_Booking.html

Ticketing

This year, the Australasian Open, The Voice of Metal - National Australia Brass, and the Australasian Entertainment Open are separate ticketed events being promoted by Twin Towns Clubs and Resorts.

For tickets go to http://www.twintowns.com.au/showroom.html

Registrations

Registrations are currently being finalised and bands are encouraged to ensure all players have active registrations.

Space permitting, FABB registration ID cards will also provide admission for the cardholder to the Australasian Open and Australasian Open Entertainment events.

The registration ID cards will be distributed to bands at the Opening Function on Friday evening, and will also be available for collection at the registration check-in desk on Saturday by those not playing with any band.

http://www.fabb.com.au/registration.html

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands provide an update on this years Australasian Open Brass Festival.

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands (FABB) confirms further details on the 2009 Australasian Brass Festival, being held at Cooloongatta, Queensland, 23-25 October, 2009.

The Adjudicators

Professor David King, Professor Peter Graham and Steve Bastable have confirmed their availability and will be the adjudicators for the two contested events.

Professor David King and Professor Peter Graham will adjudicate the Australasian Open (Test Piece), and Professor David King and Steve Bastable will adjudicate the Australasian 'Entertainment' Open.

Biographies can be found at www.fabb.com.au/­adjudicators.html

Test Music

The Test Music, "The Torchbearer – Symphonic Variations and Metamorphosis on a Theme by Eric Ball", by Professor Peter Graham, is now available from info@gramercymusic.com

The two organisations that respectively present the Australasian Open Festival and The Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, FABB and Kapitol Promotions, have joined forces to commission the first joint Championship Section test-piece for both events.

Registration of players

The registration of players is now available on the FABB website. Players are urged to register as soon as possible. The registration process requires photo ID to be uploaded along with player details, and a $15 fee.

This registration is compulsory for all players intending to play with a band in the Australasian Open, and is also available to those players in bands who have not been invited.

Attending bands may need player assistance to make up the 30 brass player limit.

The website will be a place for bands to see which other players are available and suitable to fill in the holes they might have positions they wish to boost.

www.fabb.com.au/­registration.html

NAB at FABB

To add to the quality of performance at this years Australasian Open Festival, National Australia Brass directed by Professor David King will be performing in concert on Saturday evening, 24 October.

ABC Forum

The inaugural Australasian Band Composers and Conductors (ABC) Forum directed by David King and Peter Graham takes place on Friday 23 October.

The Forum involves specialist workshops dealing with composition and performance.

Numbers are limited so book early to secure a place.

More information and detail can be found at: http:/­/­www.fabb.com.au/­ABC_Booking.html

Tickets

This year, the Australasian Open, National Australia Brass, and the Australasian Entertainment Open are separate ticketed events being promoted by Twin Towns Clubs and Resorts.

For promotional information and tickets go to:
http:/­/­www.twintowns.com.au/­showroom.html

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands and the Keller International Soloist of the Year event have linked each of the respective festivals in a new collaboration.

At the FABB Australasian Open Brass Festival at Tweed Heads, October 23-25 2009, the winning brass soloist from the Australasian Entertainment event will now be recognized by the Keller Festival as an automatic entrant, funded by the FABB,  to the International Soloist of the Year event held annually at St Marys Band Club. 

The agreement came after discussions between St Marys Band Club Board member and organiser of the Keller International Soloist of the Year Ken Bradley and FABB Chairman, Rick Casagrande.

“The collaboration between the two entities further cements the new direction in which we see Australasian Banding heading,” said FABB Chairman Rick Casagrande.  “It is important and the responsibility of each of us to do all we can to promote banding in the wider community.” 

Both festivals are played out in major public clubs in New South Wales with access to the general public and the mutual goal of bringing entertainment and brass playing back to the community from whence it began.