2026 Wurst Brass Festival Rules
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Brass Band Registration deadline is March 12th! Registration is limited to 11 bands and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Secure your spot before it's too late! 9 bands are already registered.
“Wurst Friday" march competition Friday, June 19th, 2026
Registration
Registration form Due March 12th
Entry fee (non-refundable) $500.
Supply a band roster
Supply a copy of the conductor score for your choice march (originals will be returned after the event)
Personnel
35 instrumentalists - brass and percussion
If the conductor elects to perform, they will be counted as part of the 35 instrumentalists
Players shall not be rotated
No sharing of players
Performance Requirements
There will be 3 performance sites and it will be a shotgun start.
Bands must perform 2 marches at each of the three performance locations:
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The test march - TBD
-
A march of their own choice
Bands must be ready to play when asked
All Bands will start from their designated site - which will be determined by the draw
Adjudication
Bands will be scored using the NABBA scoring system. Technical Achievement (50%) and Artistic Achievement (50%).
Each adjudicator will have a maximum of 100 points
Final results will be an average of the adjudicators' scores
The test march will be weighted to 60% of the score.
Prizes
1st place - Wurst Friday Champion Trophy
2nd place - 2nd place trophy
3rd place - 3rd place trophy
“Wurst Brass Festival” - Saturday, June 20th, 2026
Personnel
35 instrumentalists
Players may be rotated
Players may be shared
Performance Requirements (actual number of registered bands will determine the festival start & end times)
11 bands in attendance
Start Time: 9:35 AM
End Time: 7:30 PM
There will be 1 location
Bands will have 10 minutes to set up for their performance
Each band will have 45 minutes to perform their chosen works
There are no required pieces. All musical selections are at the sole discretion of the performing group.
10 bands in attendance
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 7:20 PM
There will be 1 location
Bands will have 10 minutes to set up for their performance
Each band will have 50 minutes to perform their chosen works
There are no required pieces. All musical selections are at the sole discretion of the performing group.
9 bands in attendance
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 7:30 PM
There will be 1 location
Bands will have 15 minutes to set up for their performance
Each band will have 52 minutes to perform their chosen works
There are no required pieces. All musical selections are at the sole discretion of the performing group.
6 - 8 bands in attendance
Start Time Between 9:45 AM & 11 AM
End Time Between 6:15 PM & 7:30 PM
There will be 1 location
Bands will have 15 minutes to set up for their performance
Each band will have 1-hour to perform their chosen works
There are no required pieces. All musical selections are at the sole discretion of the performing group.
4 - 5 bands in attendance
Start Time: 9:45 AM
End Time: 7:00 PM
There will be 1 location
Bands will have 15 minutes to set up for their performance
Each band will perform two 45-minute programs throughout the day.
The performance rotation will be created after the draw has been determined.
There are no required pieces. All musical selections are at the sole discretion of the performing group.
Adjudication
This is a concert-style entertainment performance. No adjudication will take place other than the 'Audience Choice' awards.
Audience Choice Awards will be:
1 - Favorite Overall Performing Group of the Day (Festhalle Barn)
2 - Most Entertaining Group of the Day (Festhalle Barn)
3 - Favorite Solo or duet of the Day (Festhalle Barn)
4 - Favorite Small Group of the day (Millstream Brewing Company stage)
Disclaimer
The Iowa Brass band will not be responsible for loss, damage or injury during the event.
Bands must accept the responsibility of any minors associated with their band.
It is the responsibility of the performing band to obtain permission to perform any unpublished works.