FAQs
What are the guidelines for the selection of major awards?
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Purpose
The Bundaberg Eisteddfod major awards exist to recognise outstanding achievement, artistic potential, commitment to development, and excellence in performance across the competition. These awards are intended not only to celebrate achievement but also to encourage and support the ongoing artistic growth of competitors.The adjudication process should reflect the values of fairness, encouragement, diversity of opportunity, and excellence.
Encouragement Awards
Awarded to the competitor that the adjudicator feels has demonstrated a passion and enthusiasm for their chosen instrument or genre, and with further training will see improvement. Recipients may not necessarily place first in their section. When selecting Encouragement Award recipients, adjudicators should consider:
Emerging talent
Positive performance growth
Musical or artistic potential
Commitment and preparation
Confidence and stage presence
Dedication to their craft
Excellence Awards
Awarded to the competitor that the adjudicator feels has shown exceptional merit in their chosen instrument or genre. The award recipient must have placed first in at least one section. When selecting Excellence Award recipients, adjidicators should consider:
Technical excellence
Artistic interpretation
Performance maturity
Professionalism
Consistency throughout the Eisteddfod
Potential to benefit from further training and development
Bi-Annual Major Award Eligibility Rule
To ensure broad opportunity and recognition across the Bundaberg Eisteddfod community, recipients of all major awards shall become ineligible to receive the same award in the immediately following year. For example; a competitor awarded the Senior Vocal Excellence award in 2025 cannot be awarded the Senior Vocal Excellence award in 2026, they would become eligible again in 2027.
The intent of this rule is to:
Encourage wider recognition across the competitor base
Support the development of emerging performers
Maintain competitive fairness
Celebrate a broader range of artistic talent each year
Exceptional Circumstances Clause
If the instrument/discipline throughout the competition consists of a small pool of students eg: bass guitar, award reciepients may need to be nominated for a consecutive years awards.
Guiding Philosophy
The Bundaberg Eisteddfod seeks to celebrate excellence while fostering opportunity, encouragement, and artistic growth. Awards should recognise not only achievement, but also potential, dedication, and the future development of young artists. The goal of the awards program is to ensure that competitors are seen, heard, celebrated, and inspired to continue their artistic journey.
What are the guidelines for the selection of Gala night performers?
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Purpose of the Gala Evening
The Bundaberg Eisteddfod Gala Evening is designed to celebrate and showcase the diversity, excellence, and entertainment value of performers across the Eisteddfod.
The Gala is intended to be:
A celebration of the performing arts
An engaging and entertaining audience experience
A showcase of outstanding and memorable performances
A representation of the breadth of talent across all disciplines
The Gala is not solely a presentation of first-place winners or major award recipients.
Representation Across Disciplines
The Gala program should aim to represent all major disciplines of the Eisteddfod, including but not limited to vocal, brass, woodwind, piano, strings, guitar, percussion, speech & drama, rock bands, and choral & instrumental ensembles.
The Bundaberg Eisteddfod Executive Committee reserves final discretion regarding overall Gala programming to ensure balance, variety, pacing, and audience engagement.
Adjudicator Recommendations
Each adjudicator is requested to provide approximately three (3) recommended Gala performers or performances from their discipline area if possible (based on entry numbers). Recommendations should include:
Performer name
Section/item performed
Reason for recommendation
Adjudicators may provide additional reserve recommendations if desired.
Selection Criteria
When selecting Gala recommendations, adjudicators should consider:
Entertainment value
Audience engagement
Stage presence and charisma
Confidence and communication
Artistic impact
Variety and programming balance
Suitability for a Gala concert setting
Technical excellence remains important; however, adjudicators are reminded that performances which score highly in a competitive section may not always translate most effectively to a Gala concert environment. Similarly, some performances with exceptional audience appeal, theatricality, emotional connection, or stagecraft may be highly suitable for Gala presentation regardless of whether they received a major award.
Final Programming
Final Gala selections and running order will be determined by the Bundaberg Eisteddfod Executive Committee in consultation with adjudicators where required.
Consideration will also be given to:
Program pacing
Duration
Discipline balance
Performer availability
Technical and venue requirements
Audience experience
The Executive Committee reserves the right to invite additional performers or adjust selections where necessary to achieve the overall vision of the Gala Evening.