North of Perth Music Festival: City of Bayswater's Community Eisteddfod
The North of Perth Music Festival is a community performing arts eisteddfod held in association with the City of Bayswater, welcoming participants of all ages across piano, strings, singing, speech and drama. With more than 69 years of heritage and notable alumni including Heath Ledger and Lisa McCune, it is one of Perth's most established performance competitions. Adjudications run in September and Winners Concerts follow in October, with over $11,000 in prizes, gold medallions and trophies awarded each year.
What is the North of Perth Music Festival and who runs it?
The North of Perth Music Festival is a not-for-profit community eisteddfod run in association with the City of Bayswater, Western Australia. It is an entry-based performing arts festival, not a commercial ticketed concert, and is entirely focused on giving participants at every level a stage, professional adjudicator feedback and the chance to compete for prizes.
The festival has operated for more than 69 years and has a strong track record of nurturing emerging talent. Its long history in Perth's northern suburbs means it is deeply embedded in local schools, music studios and performing arts communities across the greater metropolitan area.
What performing arts disciplines can participants enter?
Participants can enter competitions in piano, strings, singing, speech and drama, covering a broad range of styles and age groups. Categories are structured so that beginners, intermediate students and advanced performers all have appropriate sections in which to compete.
- Piano: classical and contemporary sections across junior, intermediate and open grades
- Strings: solo and ensemble categories for a range of instruments
- Singing: classical, musical theatre, contemporary and choral options
- Speech and drama: prose, poetry, monologue and group performance sections
Because the festival is open to all ages, primary school students, secondary students and adult performers can all find relevant categories. Teachers and studio directors often coordinate group entries on behalf of their students.
What prizes and awards are on offer?
The festival distributes more than $11,000 in prizes, along with gold medallions and trophies, across its competition program. Prize money, medallions and trophies are awarded to section winners and overall champions, giving participants a concrete goal to work toward.
Winners Concert performances in October give the highest-scoring participants an additional opportunity to perform in front of a public audience, making the prize not just monetary but also a meaningful platform experience.
Who can enter, and is there an age limit?
There is no age limit; the festival is genuinely open to all ages, from young primary school children through to adult and senior performers. Sections are divided by age group and skill level so that every entrant competes fairly against peers at a similar stage.
Parents, teachers and school coordinators are encouraged to review the syllabus carefully to match students to the most appropriate sections. Many Perth music studios and performing arts schools enter cohorts of students each year, making the festival a practical annual milestone in a student's training calendar.
How and when do I enter the North of Perth Music Festival?
Entries are submitted online through the festival website ahead of the September adjudication period; the specific entry deadline is published in the annual syllabus. The North of Perth Music Festival competitions, entry and what to expect guide walks prospective entrants through the process step by step, from choosing a section to preparing for adjudication day.
Teachers and studio coordinators can submit entries on behalf of multiple students, which is the most common approach for schools and private music practices. Early entry is advisable because popular sections can fill quickly.
Where are adjudications and concerts held?
All adjudications and Winners Concerts take place within the City of Bayswater catchment in Perth, Western Australia, so in-person attendance is required. The festival does not operate online or in other states; it is a local, community-based event serving Perth's northern suburbs and greater metropolitan area.
Venue details and session timetables are published on the festival website ahead of each year's program. Participants, parents and supporters are welcome to attend adjudication sessions to observe other competitors and learn from the feedback given.
Why do teachers and schools recommend this festival?
Teachers recommend the North of Perth Music Festival because professional adjudicators provide written and verbal feedback that directly supports a student's ongoing development, not just a result. The combination of structured competition, expert critique and public performance makes it a valuable complement to regular lessons and studio exams.
For schools and performing arts studios, the festival offers a community-focused environment where students build confidence, learn to manage performance nerves and experience the motivation that comes from working toward a competitive goal. Explore the full range of Perth performing arts festival competitions for all ages to see how the program fits your students' disciplines and levels.
Quick checklist: is the North of Perth Music Festival right for your student?
- Your student studies piano, strings, singing, speech or drama
- You are based in Perth or the greater metropolitan area and can attend in person in September and October
- Your student would benefit from adjudicator feedback alongside a competitive result
- You want a festival with structured age and grade divisions so competition is fair
- Your student or school is looking for a performance milestone with prize incentives
- You value a festival with deep community roots and a long track record in Western Australia