email
Class Groups for 2026
Junior Vocal Adult Vocal ( Solos and Duets) Junior Choral Adult Choral Woodwind Composition Brass Strings Acoustic and Electric Guitar Classical Guitar and Plucked Strings Percussion Piano Mixed Ensembles JazzMixed Ensembles
When you make your application it is essential that you describe your mixed ensemble as fully as possible to help us with timetabling and adjudication. Please use the Special Requirements field of the application to tell us the likely make-up of the group in terms of ages, numbers, instruments, space requirements, and whether adult performers are involved within a Junior group etc.
Our intention is to create a mini concert in the Main Hall at Arnewood by grouping similar entries together. To inspire younger performers we may include older groups in the same timetabled session. Adjudication will only be between similar age and abilty groups. Larger String, Brass, Woodwind and Percussion ensembles may also be included in the Mixed Ensembles performances in the Main Hall as there is more space. It will help if you can also tell us the likely number of audience that may come to support so that we can fit both performers and audience into the Main Hall.
We would also like a short paragraph about the group that can be read by the compere as an introduction whilst your group is setting up prior to performance.
Performance time limited to 8 minutes. Set-up time limited to 4 minutes - please rehearse your group for efficient set-up and set-down! We'd expect major tuning to be sorted in the green room before you come into the Main Hall. The timetable will only work by sticking to these limits.
| Online Entry | Class | Description | Time Limit | Class Fee | Accomp. Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | P55 | Performance Platform. Any Mixed Ensemble, including school age performers. No adjudication. Own choice. | 8 mins | £16.00 | N/A |
| Apply | P56 | Performance Platform. Adult Mixed Ensemble. No adjudication. Own choice. | 8 mins | £16.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 100A | Junior Mixed Ensemble, Elementary. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 11 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 100B | Junior Mixed Ensemble, Intermediate. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 11 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 100C | Junior Mixed Ensemble, Advanced. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 11 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 101A | Senior Mixed Ensemble, Elementary. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 18 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 101B | Senior Mixed Ensemble, Intermediate. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 18 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 101C | Senior Mixed Ensemble, Advanced. Any combination of instruments and/or voices up to 18 years old. Own choice(s). Indicate on application if any adults are involved in performing. | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 103 | Family Ensemble, two or more members of the same family, any age, any combination of instruments and/or voices. Own choice(s). | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
| Apply | 104 | Duet,Trio or Quartet, any age, any instruments and/or voices not eligible to compete in any other class. Own choice(s). | 8 mins | £8.50 | N/A |
| Apply | 105 | Adult Ensemble. Any instruments (please advise). Own choice(s) | 8 mins | £18.00 | N/A |
Adjudicator - Joseph Skypala
Joseph says "Since studying at both the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, I've been fortunate to play in a wide variety of genres and ensembles. I work with orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Concert and Bournemouth Symphony and well as Opera orchestras Scottish Opera and Opera North.
The trumpet is a very versatile instrument and has led me to play in West End pits, brass ensembles and trumpet Trios. Baroque music is a passion of mine and regularly play in Baroque groups, performing on the Natural trumpet."
