Central Coast Conservatorium of Music will launch the inaugural Central Coast Instrufest – a five-day competitive music festival – in October.
The event will be held at the Conservatorium’s Robert Knox Hall in Gosford, from Tuesday, October 8, to Saturday, October 12.
The school holiday competition is being sponsored by Central Coast Council and will include age-based categories in vocal, piano, strings, guitar, brass, percussion and woodwind.
It will also be open to small ensembles of any instruments.
Performances will be judged by qualified adjudicators, with a selection of competitors being chosen to perform again in the Championship Showcase on October 12.
Prizes will be awarded at the showcase for most promising musicians.
Instrufest is open to anyone aged five and over, with age categories and open sections.
“Currently there is no instrument competition on the Central Coast,” Conservatorium CEO Lisa Barnes said.
“Now, thanks to generous sponsorship from Central Coast Council we are able to present the only instrument performance competition on the Coast to showcase talent and give our local amateur musicians the opportunity to perform.”
Conservatorium Artistic Director Patrick Brennan said the festival was about having fun and also getting constructive feedback on performance and technique from qualified judges.
“This competition is also about celebrating the joy of music and live performance, and we are looking forward to filling our Robert Knox Hall with the sounds of a wide variety of instruments,” he said.
“Most importantly this is about having fun, and for some, experiencing performing in front of someone else for the first time.”
Brennan said the competition was open to amateur musicians from the Central Coast and beyond, with everyone from beginners to advanced students welcome to register.
“We know there are many instrumentalists and singers out there and we would love to invite them to Robert Knox Hall to showcase their talents,” he said.
Entry is $10 per section and registrations close on September 1.
For more information or to register visit www.centralcoastconservatorium.com.au/instrufest