Syllabus
2026 ABA Syllabus
The Alberta Band Association produces a syllabus each year which contains recommended, appropriate works listed by skill level. The ABA Syllabus is adopted by festivals throughout the province and provides band directors with guidance as to quality literature for their students to perform.
In addition to the syllabus, the Alberta Band Association is pleased to offer a list of Alberta Band Association recommended marches. This downloadable resource guide is for the director’s use when planning festival and concert performances and directors are encouraged to select Marches to use as one of their contrasting selections at the Festival of Bands.
Download the ABA List of Recommended Marches
*the recommended marches do no meet the requirement for an ABA Syllabus piece unless specifically listed on the current year's syllabus
Festival Literature
All bands will prepare THREE selections at their playing level, (i.e. 1 – 6), in one of five categories:
*Pop selections are not permitted.
We also keep a record of all of the repertoire performed at the Festival of Bands each year and make that list available.
Lastly, the Syllabus is listed below with previous years Syllabi available for download at the bottom of the page.
Download the 2026 Syllabus
In addition to the syllabus, the Alberta Band Association is pleased to offer a list of Alberta Band Association recommended marches. This downloadable resource guide is for the director’s use when planning festival and concert performances and directors are encouraged to select Marches to use as one of their contrasting selections at the Festival of Bands.
Download the ABA List of Recommended Marches
*the recommended marches do no meet the requirement for an ABA Syllabus piece unless specifically listed on the current year's syllabus
Festival Literature
All bands will prepare THREE selections at their playing level, (i.e. 1 – 6), in one of five categories:
- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (school Grade 1 – 6)
- JUNIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 7 – 9)
- SENIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 10 – 12)
- JUNIOR COMMUNITY (less than 3 years playing experience)
- SENIOR COMMUNITY (3 years playing experience or higher)
*Pop selections are not permitted.
We also keep a record of all of the repertoire performed at the Festival of Bands each year and make that list available.
Lastly, the Syllabus is listed below with previous years Syllabi available for download at the bottom of the page.
Download the 2026 Syllabus
The 2026 Alberta Band Association Syllabus
*indicates pieces appropriate for small ensembles
+winner of the Howard Cable Prize for composition
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Grade 1A (First Year Players Only)
Base-Six Andalucia Guardians Expedition African Folk Trilogy Farwell at Dawn Starlit Night Three Faces of Kilimanjaro *All Ye Young Sailors *Chorale and Canon *Court Festival Grade One (1+ Years on Instrument) Dark Star In the Cool of the Evening Prelude and Celebration After the Rain Irish Tune from County Derry March from Fist Suite In Times of Turbulence Lincolnshire Posy (Two Movements) The Forge Dance Slav Whirlwind Spirit of the Stallion At the Water's Edge Grade Two Journey (Paddle Song) The Code The Bonsai Tree Blessing Wind Rippling Watercolors Evergreen Escapades Dominion The Grid Kaalin's Flight Ancient Flower Southampton March Byzantine Dances Lisbon (from Lincolnshire Posy) Eagle Song Avinu Malkeinu Ancient Voices Grade Three Three Folk Miniatures Circles +Cape Breton Skies Joy Revisited Raven (The Trickster) Sheltering Sky Three Ayres from Gloucester The Quest Halcyon Hearts *Rocketship Haunted Carousel Pop! Montreal Citadel Donkey Riding Chasing Sunlight Grade Four Heart of Fire Hung Aloft the Night Haven Perthshire Majesty An Irish Rhapsody Courtly Airs and Dances Pedal to the Medal Centennium El Torico de la Cuerda March Bou Shu All the Pretty Little Horses Loch Lomond The Witch and the Saint A Mother of a Revolution! Bayou Breakdown Elegy for Albinoni Molly's Sweet Persian Dance No. 2 |
Composer/Arranger
Laura Estes Victor Lopez Adrian Sims Ryan Meeboer Anne McGinty Bruce w. Tippette James Swearingen Robert W Smith Pierre la Plante Anne McGinty Bruce Pearson Composer/Arranger Christina Huss Matt Neufeld Jonathan Dagenais Matt Neufeld Paul Cook Holst arr. Story Robert W. Smith Grainger, arr. Michael Ryan Christina Huss Jack Wilds Jodie Blackshaw Brian Balmages Rob Romeyn Composer/Arranger Robert Buckley Alan Lee Silva Julie Giroux Yukiko Nishimura Brian Balmages Adrian Sims Randall Standridge Adrian SIms Ryan Meeboer Yukiko Nishimura Robert Sheldon Carol Britten Chambers Arr. Michael Sweeney Bob Baker/Robert Buckley Arr. Vince Gassi Michael Sweeney Composer/Arranger Andre Juntras Brian Balmages Griffin Hook Frank Ticheli Robert Buckley/Bob Baker John Mackey Hugh M. Stuart Patrick Glenn Harper Katahj Copley Kevin Day Erika Svanoe Tawnie Olsen Norman Audoire trans. K. Horner Donald Coakley Cait Nishimura Composer/Arranger Lauren Bernofsky Anthony O’Tole Adrian Sims Samuel Hazo Clare Grundman Ron Nelson David R. Gillingham Brian Balmages Luis Serrano Alarcon Satoshi Yagiswa Andrew Boysen Jr. Frank Ticheli Steven Reineke Omar Thomas Brant Karrick Shelley Hanson Arr. George Rowe Amir Molookpour |
Publisher
Excelcia Alfred Makemusic Eighth Note Queenwood Alfred Barnhouse Belwin Daehn Queenwood Kjos Publisher Excelcia Grand Mesa Eighth Note Randall Standridge Belwin Alfred Barnhouse Belwin Excelcia FJH Manhattan Beach FJH Barnhouse Publisher Hal Leonard Carl Fisher LLC Musica Propria Alfred FJH FJH Randall Standridge FJH Eighth Not Carl Fischer Alfred Excelsia Hal Leonard Hal Leonard Alfred Hal Leonard Publisher CL Barnhouse MakeMusic Self-Published Manhattan Beach Hal Leonard Osti/Mackey Hal Leonard Carl Fischer Murphy Music Press Murphy Music Press Alfred Bandquest C. Alan Eighth Note Cait Nishimura Publisher FJH FJH FJH Boosey and Hawkes Boosey and Hawkes Ludwig Masters C. Alan FJH Piles Editorial de Musica De Haske Alfred Manhattan Beach Barnhouse Self-Published Alfred Windependence Grand Mesa Hafabra |
Grade 5
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators
Grade 6
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators
Grade 6
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators
In addition to the current syllabus, we have provided several of the past syllabi for your use in finding suitable literature for your band.
2025 Syllabus
2024 Syllabus
2023 Syllabus
2022 Syllabus
2020 Syllabus
2019 Syllabus
2018 Syllabus
2017 Syllabus
2016 Syllabus
2015 Syllabus
2014 Syllabus
2013 Syllabus
2012 Syllabus
2011 Syllabus
2010 Syllabus
2009 Syllabus
2008 Syllabus
2007 Syllabus
2006 Syllabus
2005 Syllabus
2004 Syllabus
2003 Syllabus
2002 Syllabus
2025 Syllabus
2024 Syllabus
2023 Syllabus
2022 Syllabus
2020 Syllabus
2019 Syllabus
2018 Syllabus
2017 Syllabus
2016 Syllabus
2015 Syllabus
2014 Syllabus
2013 Syllabus
2012 Syllabus
2011 Syllabus
2010 Syllabus
2009 Syllabus
2008 Syllabus
2007 Syllabus
2006 Syllabus
2005 Syllabus
2004 Syllabus
2003 Syllabus
2002 Syllabus