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Australasian Recorder Festival and Recorder Competition Australia
Each January, recorder players from across Australia and New Zealand gather in Armidale, NSW, for a week of classes and concerts. The Australasian Recorder Festival, organised by Orpheus Music, is usually held in January and includes the finals of the recorder competition. We have been running the festival for over 30 years, and each year we build a fresh program around a new set of tutors and topics – rather than simply repeating what came before.
Why We Host the Australasian Recorder Festival Every Year
That focus on fresh tutors and topics began with a gap Orpheus Music kept seeing: recorder players in Australia and New Zealand rarely had the chance to study under international tutors without travelling overseas. The Australasian Recorder Festival closes that gap by bringing the tutors to Armidale instead.
Classes are run in tiered groups, so a player working through their first ensemble piece sits in a different room from someone preparing a competition entry or studying recorder at a conservatorium. Topics shift each year, covering anything from medieval repertoire to jazz arrangements, which gives returning players something new to learn and focus on.
Why People Love Our Australasian Recorder Festival
Community, passion for the recorder, and the chance to learn from some of the finest players in the world are what bring participants back year after year. Direct contact with tutors they would otherwise only hear on a recording is a major draw and the annual recorder competitions, give serious players a focused goal beyond the festival week itself.
Why players return:
- World-class tutors – Drawn from international and Australian recorder circles, teaching across the full week rather than a single masterclass. Learn from the best in technique classes, small ensembles, and large recorder orchestras.
- Youth section – A dedicated stream for players under 25, separating younger entrants from adult ensembles.
- Full board on campus – Meals and accommodation are available, so participants can focus on the music.
- Daily trade display – Players can test instruments between sessions, with a range of recorders and accessories available. Huge collection of over 6000 recorder sheet music to browse through.
- Concerts, interviews and special topic lectures – Enjoy performances by some of the finest recorder players, alongside exclusive interviews and in-depth lectures.
- Written feedback for competition finalists – Every finalist receives a written evaluation from the jury, not just a placing.
Enter Our Recorder Competition Today
Submissions for the 2028 competition close October 1, 2027. Finalists perform for a jury of international and Australian recorder professionals, with prize money going to winning performances and a guaranteed slot in the Highlights Concert. Entry requires current enrolment in the Australasian Recorder Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter the recorder competition?
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Is accommodation arranged for the week?
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