Music Investigation

Brass Band Champion : Will Leslie

This year has been a tough one for musicians, with so many events cancelled, postponed or adjusted, the competition and eisteddfod circuit made swift changed to keep the community vibrant. Many competitions moved online and previous opportunities that may have not been available due to travel, timing or expenses, have opened for wider participation. Will Leslie, Year 11, has kept his eye on the prize and entered 15 competitions during lockdown with outstanding results. 

Will is currently studying Music Investigation at Unit 4 and is a valuable player in our ensembles. His Investigation Topic explores the techniques of the baritone horn in the brass band context. His work in community brass bands is extensive, as is his experience of entering and competing in competitions. Will has tackled the topic and playing techniques with passion and a deep understanding of the context. I asked Will some questions about his experience of the online competitions.

How do you learn about competitions? 

I learnt about most of them through Facebook. I always knew about Victorian, NSW states, and Boroondara Eisteddfod through band work and past experiences. I was always going to enter the Victorian State(s) and Boroondara Eisteddfod and when I found out that the NSW State competitions were online, I thought that I might as well enter. The Fine Music competition was a replacement for the National Comp that was meant to be held during Easter but was cancelled.  

What is required for each entry? What do you have to do? 

Each entry requires a video and some of the more “major” ones require you to submit sheet music. The trick is to try and use the same video more than once, especially if you do not have to say anything at the start or the section has the same name. 

How do you submit or participate? 

Often there’s a google form or something similar for registration then the video is submitted separately at a later date. The video is sometimes uploaded to a google drive or through some other platform. The Foden’s one was all done through Facebook, you simply send them the video and info all at once on Facebook and they simply shared what you sent them when they got it.

What‘s the hardest part of online competitions? 

Perfectionism and working out which recording is good enough. Since you can record as many times as you want, compared to one adrenaline filled live performance, there is a feeling that if you mess up you just start again. This leads to constantly wanting to do a better recording and wearing myself out and only making more slips with each new recording. Then there’s the challenge of working out what which recording is best. 

How has this experience developed your skills? 

It has pushed my ability to really listen critically because I have to work out which recording is best.   

How do you find out the results? 

The results are normally an event, sometimes it’s all in one Facebook post, sometimes it’s spread over many Facebook posts, and sometimes is done on a video through YouTube. The experience of the results is the same as a live performance and results reading.

These are the competitions that Will has participated in this year.  

Foden’s Brass Festival: Under 18 Brass: N/A 

Brass Music Store Online Competition: 16 and Under Brass: 3rd place 

Fine Music Online National Championship: Junior Baritone: 1st place 

Boroondara Eisteddfod: Under 19 Brass: 1st place 

Wantage Brass Online Youth Competition (International): 16-19 Brass: 2nd place 

NSW State Solo Competition: Junior Baritone: 1st place 

NSW State Solo Competition: Junior Slow Melody: didn’t place (only winner was announced) 

NSW State Solo Competition: Junior Brass Champion of Champions: awaiting results 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Junior Baritone: 1st place 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Open Baritone: 3rd place 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Junior Slow Melody: 2nd place 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Open Slow Melody: didn’t place (84 points) 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Junior Australian Composition: 1st place 

Victorian State Solo Championships: Junior Theme and Variations: 1st place  

Victorian State Solo Championships: Junior Brass Champion of Champions: awaiting results 

We congratulate Will on his outstanding achievements and wish him the best in his pending results. 

Cindy Frost