NSW Department of Education

Surround Sound

Region: Rural North Rural South and West | Rural and remote schools

Years 7 to 12

Program Music

Apply for 2025

Surround Sound is a band program for students from secondary schools in rural and remote areas. Bands must have between 3 and 16 members and may perform covers or originals in any contemporary music style.

All performers must be students enrolled at a NSW public school in Years 7 to 12. No teachers or tutors can perform as part of the band.

Any schools meeting the above criteria may apply by video submission (details below)

A Surround Sound band day, new in 2025, will be held at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium in Grafton, where local schools can participate in workshops and performances. These performances will be recorded for submission to the Surround Sound competition.

Finalists who have not received more than one workshop in the last 3 years will receive a school-based workshop delivered by an industry mentor during Term 3 in Week 3 or Week 7
New finalist bands and their teacher will be supported to travel and be accommodated in Sydney at the Surround Sound camp.
Bands that have not been finalists more than once will be provided a contribution toward the cost of attending the Surround Sound Camp.
All finalists will be invited to participate in the Surround Sound Camp, which will feature workshops, educational sound checks and the opportunity to perform a 12-minute set twice at SpecFest outside of Schools Spectacular in Term 4 Week 7.

Applications

Applications will open on Monday 3 February 2025 and close on Friday 6 June 2025.

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How to apply

Prepare your video submission and upload it to an online platform, such as YouTube, Vimeo or Google Docs link. Ensure the settings on your URL are set to allow the panel to view it.
Have each student complete and return a Surround Sound 2025 permission to publish form.
Complete your Surround Sound 2025 application form* with the following information:
- name of band/ensemble
- a short band biography
- name of audition piece (please also indicate if it is a cover or an original song).

*Please ensure you are logged in to your NSW Department of Education Google account before using the application form.

Bands participating in the Surround Sound Band Day will have their performance recorded for submission to the Surround Sound competition

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Video submission

Bands are required to submit one song of up to 5 minutes.
The song can be a cover or an original.
The video should be filmed as one continuous live take from a single static camera with no need for camera movement (including zoom, pan or tilt) using live audio from the room taken into the camera - make sure everyone performing can be seen in the shot.
A video taken with a smartphone or tablet, using the sound from the internal microphone of that device will be sufficient.
The quality of video and audio recordings will not be considered as part of the judging criteria.
Video filmed at a school or community event may be used as the round 1 submission if it meets the above requirements.
The video should not have any titles or images edited into the file.
The video should show the band performing to the camera as an 'audience'.

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