# Boroondara Eisteddfod

The Boroondara Eisteddfod is a music competition held annually in the City of Boroondara, Melbourne, Australia.

## History

The first Eisteddfod was held in 1992 as the Camberwell Eisteddfod, under the auspices of the then-City of Camberwell. It was established by Council in December 1991 to provide a musical competition for the area, following the closure of the Hartwell Eisteddfod. Venues included the City of Camberwell Ballroom and Balwyn Community Centre.
In the events surrounding the sacking of the Camberwell Council in 1993, the Victorian Government's investigation into the council examined the circumstances under which the event was established. It found that the expenditure on the 1992 Eisteddfod "likely...was illegal" due to its failure to be properly authorised. Nevertheless, the Eisteddfod continued.
Following council amalgamations in 1994, Camberwell became part of the new City of Boroondara and the Eisteddfod was renamed to account for this change.

### Hawthorn Town Hall redevelopment

During the redevelopment of the Hawthorn Town Hall into a regional arts centre, the Eisteddfod's main venues became unavailable. This necessitated moving events to other venues across Boroondara, including the Methodist Ladies' College, Camberwell Town Hall and Kew Court House. The Eisteddfod moved back to the newly refurbished Hawthorn Arts Centre in 2015.

## Sections

In 2016, the Eisteddfod ran 39 separate sections, catering for solo and group performers.
| Category | Section |
| Pianoforte | Piano Solo (8 years and under) Piano Solo (10 years and under) Piano Solo (12 years and under) Piano Solo (14 years and under) Piano Solo (16 years and under) Piano Solo (18 years and under) Piano Solo (Open) Piano Concerto Award |
| Vocal | Classical Vocal (18 years and under) Songs from Musical Theatre or Operetta (Open) Art Song (including Lieder) (Open) Oratorio/Cantana (Open) Robert Salzer Vocal Championship Award Herman Schildberger Memorial Award Contemporary Vocal Solo (14 years and under) Contemporary Vocal Solo (18 years and under) |
| Instrumental | Strings Solo (12 years and under) Strings Solo (16 years and under) Strings Solo (Open) Guitar Solo All Styles (16 years and under) Guitar Solo All Styles (Open) Woodwind Solo (12 years and under) Woodwind Solo (16 years and under) Woodwind Solo (Open) Brass Solo (14 years and under) Brass Solo (16 years and under) Brass Solo (18 years and under) Brass Solo (Open) |
| Senior Ensemble | ADMIS Senior Chamber Ensemble (Years 7–12) - Piano with other instruments ADMIS Senior Chamber Ensemble (Years 7–12) - Strings, wind and other combinations (not including piano) Chamber Music Award (Open) |
| Junior Ensemble | Junior Small Ensemble (Year 6 and below) Junior Large Ensemble (Year 6 and below) |
| Choral | Primary School Choir Novice (Year 6 and below) Primary School Choir Regular (Year 6 and below) Secondary School Choir (Years 7–9) Secondary School Choir (Years 7–12) A Capella Choir (18 years and under) A Capella Choir (Open) |

## Awards

Certificates for first, second and third places, as well as honourable mentions, are awarded in each section.

### Supporter awards

A number of other awards, mostly donated from individual benefactors or community groups, are also open to competitors in particular sections.
| Award | Eligible section(s) | Description |
| Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Instrumental Award | Any instrumental | Presented to two performers in any section in the Instrumental Category who the adjudicator considers to have the most promise and is worthy of encouragement. |
| Tony Dorembus Memorial Original Composition Awards | Piano Solo (14 years and under) Piano Solo (16 years and under) | Eligible for entrants who perform their own original composition. One prize for each section. |
| Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society Award | Songs from Musical Theatre or Operetta | Awarded for the best performance of a selection from Viennese Operetta. |
| Herman Schildberger Memorial Award | Classical Vocal (18 years and under) Songs from Musical Theatre or Operetta (Open) Art Song (including Lieder) (Open) Oratorio/Cantana (Open) Robert Salzer Vocal Championship Award | Made to a singer aged between 18 and 25 who is considered by the adjudicator to have demonstrated the most promise and is worthy of encouragement. |
| Boroondara City Lions Club Encouragement Awards | Strings Solo (16 years and under) Guitar Solo All Styles (16 years and under) | Awarded to promising entrants. |
| Don Cowell Memorial Trust Award | Woodwind solo (16 years and under) | Awarded by the adjudicator to competitors playing recorder who is considered to have demonstrated the most promise and is worthy of encouragement. |

## Notable competitors

* Elena Xanthoudakis (soprano singer)