Event co-ordinator Emma Common said the competition was open to all primary and intermediate-aged pupils from around the Otago region, but the majority of the bands were from the Dunedin area.
"The quality of the bands was incredible. There were some really cool song choices — some songs that we haven’t heard before and a couple of classics that we always love to hear each year.
"Music teachers are doing a great job in schools, 100%.
"They are really going above and beyond."
She said a particular favourite was a band called The Rats From Countdown, from John McGlashan College.
"They were very popular. They were great.
"It was a really tough decision for the judges to pick the winners."
Miss Common said The Eight Balls would now go on to the next stage of the competition, which involved them making a music video of two of their songs, and sending it to the Bandquest organisers.
"It will then be streamed on our website along with all the other regional winners, and then the winners will get announced along with individual awards like the best vocalist, specialist instrument award and the rock star styles award."
The national Bandquest winners would be announced on September 25, she said.
