The 65th Gunnedah Eisteddfod is under way, with the instrumental section first off the ranks at Gunnedah Shire Band Hall.
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Sydney-based Ben Crocker returned to adjudicate the section for a second year, arriving in Gunnedah on Thursday for the first round of performances.
Mr Crocker has extensive experience in conducting within the brass band medium and is the head of bands at The King’s School. He has adjudicated competitions, solo events and band competitions.
“Gunnedah does have a really good reputation for excellence with kids at a very young age, and this year’s been no exception,” he said.
“Entries are up this year, so I think we’ve managed to fit in a full day extra compared to what the competition had last year.
Mr Crocker said highlights so far were the three performances in the Primary Championship, which saw Peter McCormack, Olivia Osland and Sophie Bush take to the stage.
“They were excellent,” he said.
“Really virtuosic performances, stuff with difficult finger work, very, very big extremes of dynamics and they’re pulling them off with maturity that you’d expect from an adult.”
Mr Crocker praised the performance of Peter McCormack before convenor Katrina King announced him as the winner.
“That was pretty difficult for me to judge,” he told the audience.
“The person who won had consistency from beginning to end. I was really impressed by that.
“That person was really on the ball.
“Well done to all of you. It was wonderful listening.”
The instrumental section will finish on Sunday, May 22.
Gunnedah Town Hall will host the music section from June 1-3 and the speech and drama section from June 5-8.
Programs for each section can be picked up from Gunnedah Fashion Fabrics and Second Edition Book Store.