About the Hamilton Eisteddfod

The Hamilton Eisteddfod takes place annually, and provides an opportunity for musicians and dancers to perform in front of an audience, and have that performance assessed by top professionals in the field.

The Eisteddfod runs at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, Brown Street, Hamilton. There are usually 3 sessions of approximately 3 hours duration on each day of the Eisteddfod.

In 2008, the Eisteddfod will comprise 118 music sections and 78 dance sections, from Primary school students through to open sections. Both music and dance sections range from classical to popular, thus giving the Eisteddfod a breadth not always seen in regional competitions.

Photograph courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator

In 1963, a group of local citizens interested in music and the arts arranged a meeting to form the Hamilton Eisteddfod. The first Hamilton Arts Council Eisteddfod was held consisting of 34 sections, including piano, vocal, brass, primary and secondary school choral, an instrumental group, and piano accordion. The piano accordion was a major part of the Eisteddfod in the 1960s, with competitors coming from Kerang, Pyramid Hill, Naracoorte, Hopetoun, Ararat, Horsham, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and suburbs of Melbourne.

In 1969 Mr Jack Cartasso, a wellknown local and very talented musician was apopinted an adjudicator for the Brass and Instrumental sections of the Eisteddfod. In 1994, a donation of $1,889 was presented to the Eisteddfod committee, from the trustees of "The Late Jack Cartasso Trust Fund". It was decided to invest the money and make an award annually to a student competing in the general sections of the Eisteddfod.

In 1971, dance sections were incorporated into the Eisteddfod, with some 113 comptitors travelling to Hamilton from regional areas to participate.

The late Mrs Barbara Critten, MBE,, of Hamilton assisted many students in preparation of their work in the Eisteddfods over many years. Her knowledge of choral and solo singing was outstanding and it is pleasing to note that her name is perpetuatied on the Music Centre at Baimbridge College.

Many former competitors of the Hamilton Eisteddfod have gone on to study music and achieve high standards as performers and teachers in the Australian and international music community, including Kaye Hancock, Leeanne Barber, Mark Witham, Kathryn Salt, Linda Clutterbuck, Rachel Schlaghecke, Kate Brian, Toni McDonald, Steven Yorston, Charles MacInnes, Jodi Clark, Geoff Keating, Maja Ryan, Holly Williams.

Mrs Gwenda Woodward of Hamilton was an official accompanist together with Mrs Walker Davies of Ballarat for a number of years. Patrick Lawrence of Melbourne has this position now.

Dr Di Bresciani, Dr Ian Holtham, Majella Drew, Peter Hurley and Bruce Raymond are just a few of the professional adjudicators who have taken this role.

From a meagre beginning of $525 costs and 34 sections, to over $25,000 in costs and 188 sections in 2006, the Hamilton Eisteddfod has a reputation of high-achieving musicians, and a large following, from throughout regional Victoria and South Australia, and the suburbs of Melbourne, with competitors and their families often staying in Hamilton for up to a week, supporting local businesses. No government subsidies are available, so support is sought from the community and local businesses. The committee also participates in fund-raising events, and relies on the dedicated support of at least 12 volunteer assitants each day.

The committee is confident that this year's Eisteddfod will maintain the high standards of competitoin and that both teachers and students will continue to derive benefit from their involvement.