2025 DRUMLINE INFORMATION
The 13th Australian Drumline Competition will take place at PLC Sydney in the Thompson Hall / Gymnasium, Meta Street Croydon NSW 2132
Transport Information
Parking - available in Young Street and surrounds.
Train: To Croydon Station and a 30 metre walk to school gates
DATES AND LINKS
SCORES DUE at REGISTRATION DESK
LIVE PERFORMANCE DATE
Sunday 3rd August 2025
Sunday 3rd August 2025
RESULTS ANNOUNCED At the conclusion of the event
DIVISION A and B
Each drumline will compete in two disciplines - a test piece performed to display excellence in technique and ensemble, as well as an own choice work performed with a visual marching routine.
With the aim of being as inclusive as possible, the Test Piece segment of competition will be divided by skill level into two Divisions. For their Test Piece, Divisions will choose between two pieces, A or B. By choosing to undertake either Test Piece A or B, Divisions will be able to compete amongst other ensembles with similar skill levels. This has been done in an effort to make competition more enjoyable and rewarding to both instructors and students, regardless of skill level or duration of instruction.
The final score in the Test Piece for Division B will be weighted at 80% of those competing in Division A. That is, if two units score a perfect score in Division A and Division B respectively, when compared directly against one another, Division A will score a 100 and Division B will score an 80.
It is possible, however unlikely, that a unit competing in Test Division B could win the overall Best Drum Line. More likely is the case where a unit in Division B scores higher overall than a unit in Division A. These scenarios highlight not a flaw but the nature of the Eisteddfod Drum Line Competition as being focused on the growth of the activity. In both cases it would be recommended that these units compete in Division A the following year.
There are two test pieces .
DIVISION A Drumlines with more experience can select the Division A piece - TBA 2025
DIVISION B Drumlines selecting to perform in the Division B section will perform - TBA 2025 Test pieces will be sent for drumlines once your entry is completed. Music is part of the entry fee and will be posted to you freight free.
2025 VENUE MAPS
Thompson Hall Gymnasium
Meta Street Croydon NSW 2132
PLC - Sydney
Meta Street Croydon NSW 2132
Croydon Station
Probable Coach drop off
2025 VENUE MAPS
Croydon
2025 GUIDELINES
DRUMLINE COMPETITION
PERFORMANCES GUIDELINES SATURDAY AUG 3rd 2025
• Each drumline will be given a 1 minute warm up time once they enter the performance space ready for their performance. This time may be used to evaluate the performance space, move into performance position and the performance of any warm up exercises before commencement of the Test piece and Own Choice piece. Competitors will then be announced so the adjudicator and audience recognise the commencement of the performance.
• Conductors / Teachers / Musical Directors may accompany the drumlines onto the performance space for the 1 minute practice period. Once this 1 minute preparation time has concluded they will leave the area and the drumline will be announced and the performance and adjudication will commence.
• The next drumline to perform should be ready and prepared to move onto stage immediately after the previous performance finishes, following the directions of the usher.
• All other drumlines should remain seated in the hall during the performances. Each group should return promptly to the audience area once they have performed.
• There is no indoor space for any practise session before the commencement or during the drumline competitions.
2025 RULES
REMINDER: The 2025 Australian Drumline Competition is for School-aged + Year 13 students. All Division A ensembles must consist of the following battery instruments for the test piecesnare, tenor, bass and cymbals. All four instrument sections are compulsory.
ELIGIBILITY
1.1 Age – School age and Year 13 only
1.2 Drumlines may combine students from multiple schools or community ensembles provided the ensemble competes under a single name and is school aged and Year 13 students only.
1.3 No Drumline ensemble may compete with less than six (6) members
COMPETITION AREA
2.1 In 2025 we would like all Drumline ensembles to perform within the competition area 15m x 28m (Basketball Court see next page)
TIMING
3.1 Each Drumline will be given a total of 8 minutes playing time which includes the test piece.
3.2 There is a minimum of 4 minutes playing time for the Test and Own Choice combined performances.
3.3 Drumlines competing in the OWN CHOICE section only have a time limit of 6 minutes.
ENSEMBLE INSTRUMENTS
4.1 All Division A ensembles should only consist of the following battery instruments - snare, tenor, bass and cymbals.
All four instrument groups are compulsory for the test piece.
4.2 All Division B ensembles should aim to consist of the following battery instruments - snare, tenor, bass and cymbals. It is not compulsory however to have all four sections represented in Div B.
TEST PIECE
5.1 The Test Piece must be performed first and played in its entirety before the commencement of the own choice piece(s).
5.2 A short pause between the Test piece and the Own Choice section is required.
5.3 The final score in the Test Piece for Division B will be weighted at 80% of those competing in Division A. That is, if two units score a perfect score in Division A and Division B respectively, when compared directly against one another, Division A will score a 100 and Division B will score an 80.
MOVEMENT
6.1 There should be no movement in the Test Piece. Marking Time would be acceptable
6.2 Any movement within the performance area is allowed in the Own Choice piece(s). Movement is part of the own choice presentation.
COLOUR GUARD
7.1 The purpose of the colour guard is to interpret the music that the drumline is playing via the synchronized display and movement of flags (or other visual item).
7.2 Open to boys / girls of school age
7.3 Minimum of 4+ members
7.4 Colour Guard is not compulsory for entry into the drumline competition
7.5 Routine must be prepared for the Own Choice section only.
2025 DRUMLINE PERFORMANCE SPACE
Thompson Hall/Gymnasium
The gymnasium and multi-purpose hall has a world-class sprung floor and is used by student athletes for training and competition. It is also home to PLC Sydney’s gymnastics club, which trains on a full complement of gymnastics equipment.
Please wear only school shoes or white sandshoes to protect the floor.
A basketball court is 28.7 by 15.2 m and there is a court in the gymnasium in front of the seating. We will use this space and put cones in place to show the performance space This is the maximum performance space and drumlines and colourguards should stay within this space. If you drumline would like to perform in less space and you would like to assist your group to feel comfortable within their usual performance space, please feel free to adjust the cones to suit.
Audience / Adjudicator
2025 AWARDS
DRUMLINES AWARDS
Champion Drum Line Award:
The overall winner and Champion Drum Line will be the group with the highest overall scores for both the test piece and own choice segments of the competition in Divisions A and B. The Test piece is not compulsory for entry but drumlines will only be considered for the Champion Drumline award if they play both Test and Own Choice Sections.
Division B Section:
An award will be given to the winner of the Drumline who has the highest score for Test and Own Choice Sections in the Division B Section
Best Test Piece: Div A and Div B
Division A
The award for Best Test Piece will be given to the group with the highest score in the test piece segment of the Division A competition. The groups with the second and third highest score in the test piece category of Div A will also be recognized with second and third place awards, respectively.
Division B
The award for Best Test Piece will be given to the group with the highest score in the test piece segment of the Division B competition.
Best Own Choice: Div A and Div B
Division A
The award for Best Own Choice will be given to the group with the highest aggregate score in the own choice segment of competition after combining the scores of Music Effect, Music Performance, and Visual categories. The groups with the second and third highest total score in this segment will also be recognized with second and third place awards, respectively.
Division B
The award for Best Test Piece will be given to the group with the highest score in the test piece segment of the Division B competition.
Section Awards:
As the goal of the Australian Drumline Competition is to recognize and award excellence no matter where it may appear, awards will be given for the most outstanding sections from all competing units across Div A and B
Each outstanding sub-section from any Division will receive recognition for their efforts and performance.
Snare Drums
Tenor Drums
Bass Drums
Cymbals
Colour Guard