SAINT LOUIS
BRASS BAND
Gateway Brass Band Championships
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The Gateway Brass Band Championship is a competitive music event for brass bands and ensembles held annually in the St. Louis area. The 2027 event will be held at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University, Lebanon, Illinois, on March 13, 2027.
The primary goal of the Gateway Brass Band Championship is to provide an adjudicated performance prior to the North American Brass Band Association Championships. Additionally, it promotes brass banding and brass performance though a unique format of Championship Section and Premier Section own choice performances. In addition to the highest scoring band being named Gateway Brass Band Champion in each section, second place in both Premier and Championship Sections and Outstanding Section are awarded. If four or more bands compete in a section, a third-place trophy will be awarded.
Bands in the Championship Section will perform a 25-50 minute set of music of their Own Choice while Premier Section Bands will perform a 10-35 minute set of their Own Choice. Youth Open, Youth Championship and Wind Bands will perform 12 - 20 minutes of an Own Choice program. Youth Open/Championship/Wind Bands will be adjudicated in the open and receive a short clinic following their performance. Adjudication in Premier and Championship sections will be behind a screen and will be conducted by NABBA certified adjudicators. Judges will evaluate the entire program and award one overall score. The NABBA adjudication Rubric will be used for this event. Judges will exit the hall before awards to maintain the anonymity of the bands.