SAINT LOUIS
BRASS BAND
Gateway Brass Band Championships
2027 Rules and Regulations
Adjudication
1. Three adjudicators will score bands using the NABBA scoring rubric which is based on evaluating and rewarding achievement in two sub-captions: Technical Achievement (50%) and Artistic Achievement (50%). 2. GBBC is an own choice event. The final score will be derived from the impression of the entire program. The three adjudicators scores will be added then averaged. 3. Total bands scores will be out of 100 points (The raw score of 200 will be scaled down to a 100-point scale) 4. Adjudicators will only provide recorded comments during each performance using the Competition Suite cloud-based app. (There will be no written commentary.) Bands will need a free Competition Suite account. Information to obtain this account will be forwarded prior to the event. 5. In the event of a tie, the band with the highest composite artistic sub-caption score shall be declared the winner. The following rules apply to the Gateway Brass Band Championships: •The contest administrator/assistant contest administrator are the authorities in hosting and running the GBBC. All rules interpretations and decisions are theirs and are final. •Bands will be limited in the number of players on stage. A conductor is not allowed to play an instrument with the band they are conducting. Any violation in the number of players will result in disqualification. •Entries in the Championship Section are limited to 28 brass players, up to 5 percussion players (as required by the score) plus the conductor on the competition stage at any time. Instrumentation must be traditional brass band instrumentation unless necessitated by the score. •Entries in the Premier Section are limited to 32 brass players, percussion players as needed, plus the conductor on the competition stage at any time. •Entries in the Youth Open, Youth Championship and Wind Band Sections will not have a limit on the number of performers on stage. •Sharing of players is allowed. Players may perform with two, but no more than two bands, as long as the total number of doubling players in each band does not exceed four brass players and two percussionists. (Scheduling accommodations may not be made). Any violation will result in disqualification for the band(s) sharing the excess number of players. •The Contest Program will be own choice. The program will be timed from the 1st note of the 1st piece to the last note of the final piece; this includes all pause intervals, percussion changes, and applause/bows between pieces. Any timing penalties will be assessed at a rate of a 1-point deduction (out of 100) per 1⁄2 minute over or under time or part thereof. Minimum and maximum program run times are as follows: •Championship Section: 25-50 minutes. •Premier Section: 15-35 minutes. •Youth Open/Youth Championship/Wind Bands: 12-20 minutes. •Youth Section bands must adhere to the NABBA Youth age guidelines. https://nabba.org/api/rules/cmtll9im50001tu5wraiq38l1/file •All penalties will be assessed by the contest administrator after the adjudicator’s scores have been turned in.
Registration
•Registration must be completed via the online process. Registration will open on November 15, 2026 and due by the Close of Business on February 1, 2027. •A band may enter in any section for which they qualify. •Competition Suite will be the tool used to score the bands and for audio files. Bands will receive an email with information for registering for Competition Suite. •Registration fee is $600 for the Premier and Championship Section competing brass bands. Youth brass band and Wind Band section registration fee is $200. •When a band has drawn the first position in the previous year’s contest, that band has a right to request that in the succeeding year their name be withheld from the draw for the first pick provided they enter the same section. (After the first pick is made their name is resubmitted into the draw pool. This request must be made in writing at the time of submitting the entry materials). •After the date of closure, no further registrations will be accepted, and incomplete registrations will be rejected. •Final payment amount and payment instructions will be provided upon completion of the online registration. •All participant members are eligible for complementary admission to the event.
Score Submission
Scores for each piece of the band’s program must be submitted electronically in scanned pdf form by February 15, 2027 to stlouisbrassband@gmail.com. Contest organizers will then forward to the judges for study prior to the event. Adjudicators will use these electronic scores as reference during the event. No hard copies are required.
Contest Flow
•Stages will be pre-set in a standard brass band configuration with the percussion instruments furnished by Gateway. A list of provided percussion will be posted at www.stlbb.org/gateway-championships. •A volunteer will be assigned to each band to assist bands from location to location. •Upon check-in bands will proceed to a secure room to open and store cases until the conclusion of their competition. •On deck bands will be escorted to the warm-up room at the listed time. •As the performing band on stage begins their final piece, the stand-by band will assemble in the holding area at the discretion of the stage manager. •As soon as the performing band on stage completes their program, they are expected to exit the stage as quickly as possible. •Once the final brass player of the previous performing band has exited the stage, the stand-by band will be permitted to enter the contest stage, arrange percussion and chairs, and be seated. •Players may play during this set-up period. •After a signal from the stage manager (noting the adjudicators are ready) and a signal from the conductor, contest personnel will introduce the new performing band and announce its program. The band will then perform its contest program. •Each band should familiarize themselves with timing considerations in the Rules and Regulations. •After conclusion of each band’s performance, they must immediately exit the stage and will be offered guidance to a photo area. Pictures may be taken at this point at the discretion of the individual band.
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