Gunnedah Music Eisteddfod 2024

Gunnedah Music Eisteddfod vice president co-convenor Marg Amos has praised the community on another sensational year of performances.

“We were delighted with the standard and number of people taking part,” she said.

“It was exceptional.”

About 600-700 participants were involved in the four-day music schedule which culminated in premier performances from some of the region’s most talented artists.

Ms Amos described it as the “best of the best” for variety and standard.

One of the major awards presented was the Music Scholarship valued at $1500.

Shared winners this year were brass musician Sebastian Rowe and Currabubula-based vocalist Sylvia Hillhouse.

Ms Amos said both are brilliant performers who show great potential for future careers in music.

“It was judged based on their potential to go forward with their music, to reach a high standard,” she said.

Coincidently, this year’s music eisteddfod adjudicator, Liz Vierboom, will be playing in the orchestra for Rowe when he competes in Sydney in June.

Rowe, a Gunnedah Shire Band member, is one of six individual finalists set to play in the 2024 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition.

Adjudicator Liz Vierboom with 2024 music scholarship recipients, Sebastian Rowe and Sylvia Hillhouse.

This year’s music eisteddfod in Gunnedah fielded good numbers across all entry categories, particularly the junior piano for children aged from about 8-12 years and the brass sections.

The music eisteddfod was capped off with the finale by the talented members of Gunnedah Shire Band.

“It was a great way to finish the week,” Ms Amos said.

The co-convenor also thanked all who assisted and supported the eisteddfod throughout the week.

“We had incredible audiences, the parents were fantastic,” she said.

Such was the event’s popularity, at one stage audience members were queued on the street to watch the preschool and infants performances.

“We had an incredible response from our volunteers as well,” she said.

Ms Amos also thanked local businesses and individuals who donated toward the prizes for the eisteddfod, which despite popular opinion, just covers costs once all expenses are factored in.

The Gunnedah Eisteddfod continued this week with four days of speech and drama performances at The Civic. Performances are being adjudicated by Dr Paul March – a respected teacher, adjudicator and examiner of speech and drama who has also been secretary for the Australian Speech Communication Association for 50 years.