MEFA Musicworks Ensemble Festival 2023

New Zealand’s fastest growing National Festival that caters for all ensembles from Jazz Band, Concert Band, Stage bands, Orchestras and a mix of small ensembles.

This year the festival is bigger, brighter, and better than ever with a new name MEFA (Music Ensemble Festival Aotearoa), more activities, performances, concerts and workshops. Including performances and mentoring from the members from leading National bands and ensembles.

MEFA offers both schools and community ensembles a truly encompassing festival.

For schools, MEFA offers an all-in-one experience for all ensembles with the ability for the different ensembles to perform on different days, giving all students an opportunity to perform and learn.

Hear professional ensembles perform at one of the evening Gala Concerts and attend mentoring with great educators as well as Band Director professional development sessions.

With the addition this year of a full line up of workshops, teacher professional development days and a new awards system, MEFA makes it the perfect opportunity in term three for any school to participate.

_{*Check out the WeBO 2022 Event Schedule}

_{*All performances and concerts at WeBO 2022 are accessible and free of charge to the public.}  

How it All Works

Daily Outline

Each day features a key ensemble style split into morning and afternoon sessions, with ensembles scheduled for their part of the day to perform on the main stage, then moving to a private ensemble workshop directly after the performance with one of the clinicians.

When not perfuming, members of the ensemble are encouraged to attend the sessions remaining performances in the audience to support the other ensembles.

Both the morning and afternoon sessions have complimentary workshops and mentoring sessions running all day so ensembles can perform for example in the morning session then attend workshops in the afternoon and the opposite for those performing in the afternoon.

_{*Each day ends with an awards ceremony.}

Your Ensemble Concert Performance

Each ensemble has a performance time of 20 mins on the main stage and 5 mins either side for entering and leaving the main stage.

Performances will be evaluated by some of of New Zealand and Australia’s top educators and clinicians who will provide valuable written and spoken feedback on the  performances, as well as taking a support clinic immediately afterwards.

After your ensembles main performance the group will be taken to the workshop hall nearby for a short personal workshop with one of the clinicians who has watched and evaluated your performance.

_{*The second hall is set to allow a quick transition for attendees and a more relaxed atmosphere for the workshop.}

Daily Workshops

During the course of the day a series of workshops and mentoring sessions are run in the morning then again in the afternoon. This allows MEFA participants the options of attending and supporting their performance session, and also receive valuable tuition and support from our great mentors in workshops at the opposite part of the day.

Awards

Every ensemble performing receives a Platinum, Gold or Silver participation certificate along with a director’s video containing the adjudicators voice over. MEFA is primarily a participation event, so no matter your ensembles skill set, or repertoire, awards are given on key criteria that encompass all aspects of an ensemble.

Evening Concert Performances

On the evenings of the festival we have fantastic gala concerts with a combination of professional players, ensembles and invited MEFA participants.

_{*Send questions and registrations to: education@musicworks.co.nz}

*Register here