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Photo courtesy of John Travers Photography

BILLY HYDE MUSIC FOUNDATION
The Billy Hyde Music Foundation (formerly the Music Junction Blackburn Foundation) was established in 1998 with the following objectives:

• to support instrumental music education for Australian school students
• to help students have the opportunity to both learn and perform music
• to help create the opportunity for students to experience playing in a musical team (band, ensemble, choir or orchestra)

The Foundation produces two festivals that contribute to the achievement of the objectives.

The Melbourne School Bands Festival (MSBF)
The MSBF is one the nation’s biggest and most prestigious events for school musicians. Over 8,000 students participated each year, coming from metropolitan and country Victoria, as well as interstate. The Festival commenced in 1989 with just over 20 bands and has grown to a point today where more than 240 concert bands and jazz ensembles participate in the Festival each year. Each year the Foundation provides schools the opportunity to work with a leading international educator as Chief Adjudicator.

The Melbourne School Strings Festival (MSSF)
The MSSF provides performance opportunities for all levels of string orchestras as well as Symphony Orchestras.

The structure of each event consists of three basic activities:

• PERFORMANCE - Ensembles perform works from a prescribed music list or guidelines. All works on the music lists have an educational focus allowing students to experience music composed specifically for this idiom. There is a panel of three adjudicators and ensembles receive a tape of their performance with audio adjudication as well as a written adjudication as per a set of criteria developed in conjunction with music educators. Immediately after performing, each ensemble receives an “on-stage” tutorial with the Chief Adjudicator where the students work on aspects of their performance.
• LISTENING – Each ensemble listens to other groups perform within their section. This activity may directed by a clinician who guides the students in critical and analytical listening. The students are then encouraged to use these skills in their own ensembles.
• TUTORIALS – Ensembles participate in a tutorial activity best suited to their category and experience. This may be a directed listening session where the group evaluates the performance of another ensemble, discussing the broader aspects of performing/practicing, a practical tutorial or a review and self-analysis of their own performance on video.

The Festivals'' provide the following opportunities for students and teachers:

• A performance goal for ensembles. Educators regard this event as one of the most important performance opportunities on the school calendar
• The opportunity to perform in Melbourne's finest performance venues
• Specifically designed tutorials for each ensemble category
• The opportunity to hear a performance by a number of groups of similar standard
• Students with the chance to work with leading educationalists from Australia and overseas
• Professional development opportunities for ensemble directors
• Secondary college students work experience opportunities in event management
• An Award plaque for each ensemble of either Gold, Silver, Bronze, Merit or Participation
• A rating from a panel of experienced professional adjudicators
• Ensembles with a stereo CD recording of their performance including adjudication comments
• Important feedback for directors as to the overall performance and direction of their ensemble
• Personalised video conducting tutorials for ensemble directors