2027 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

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 2027 Syllabus

The 2026 Alberta Band Association Syllabus
*indicates pieces appropriate for small ensembles
+winner of the Howard Cable Prize for composition

Grade 1A (First Year Players Only)
Black Beard
Triumphant March
Base-Six
Andalucia
Guardians
Expedition
African Folk Trilogy
Farwell at Dawn
Starlit Night
Three Faces of Kilimanjaro
*All Ye Young Sailors

 
Grade One (1+ Years on Instrument)
Chant et Danse du Coucou
Prairie Sunset
​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


Grade Two
 Thawing
Shipwrecked
​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

​
Grade Three
The Old Painted Door
Kalos Eidos
​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


Grade Four
Symbiopholie!
Spring Sketches
​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

Composer/Arranger
Randall Standridge
Oliver Fortin
​Laura Estes
Victor Lopez
Adrian Sims
Ryan Meeboer
Anne McGinty
Bruce w. Tippette
James Swearingen
Robert W Smith
Pierre la Plante


Composer/Arranger
Dominique Morest
Kenny Kristofferson
​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

​
​ Composer/Arranger
 Kazuki Shimoda
Ryan Nowlin
​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


Composer/Arranger
Dan Austin
Carol Britten Chambers
​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


Composer/Arranger
Jonathan Dagenais
Satoshi Yagisawa
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

Publisher
Randall Standridge
​Alfred
Excelcia
Alfred
Makemusic
Eighth Note
Queenwood
Alfred
Barnhouse
Belwin
Daehn
​

Publisher
L'enchanteur
Barnhouse
​Excelcia
Grand Mesa
Eighth Note
Randall Standridge
Belwin
Alfred
Barnhouse
Belwin
Excelcia
FJH
Manhattan Beach
​

Publisher
Randall Standridge
NAK Music
Hal Leonard
Carl Fisher LLC
Musica Propria
Alfred
FJH
FJH
Randall Standridge
FJH
Eighth Not
Carl Fischer
Alfred
Excelsia
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard


Publisher
Alfred
Excelcia
​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


Publisher
Eighth Note
De Haske Publications
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

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

In addition to the current syllabus, we have provided several of the past syllabi for your use in finding suitable literature for your band. 
2026 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
​