39th National Youth Jazz Competition Winners Announced

39th National Youth Jazz Competition Winners Announced

The 39th National Youth Jazz Competition was held at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre at over two days at Easter weekend as part of the National Jazz Festival Tauranga.

The Jazz Combo competition held on Friday 25 March had 17 entries from as far north as Kerikeri and as far south as Christchurch. The judges Dr Rodger Fox from New Zealand School of Music (NZSM), Lance Philip from NZSM, and Roger Manins from the University of Auckland School of Music were impressed by the standard of performance from the young musicians.

“I noticed there was a much higher standard of performance which is encouraging and inspirational,” says Lance Philip. “The band tutors have done a great job of preparing the bands for the competition given that Easter is early.”

As a first time judge Roger Manins was impressed by the bands performances and the Competition.

“The Competition is doing everything right, it’s a great environment, a relaxed atmosphere and the students get the opportunity to play in a large auditorium to a big audience. I have really been blown away by the standard and feel privileged to be involved.”

Lynfield College Jazz Combo won the Norman Family Trophy for Best Jazz Combo. Ryu Kodama from Lynfield College won the George Rawiri Trophy for Most Outstanding Young Musician. Trident High Big Band won the Best of Festival Award for Most Outstanding Jazz Band.

Judge Dr. Rodger Fox felt the standard of combos was improving year to year, in large part due to the schools returning to the competition and building on their performances each time. This year after performing the combo’s all participated in a workshop with a judge receiving immediate feedback.

The National Youth Jazz Competition continued on Sunday 26 March with 9 Big Bands competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards as well as the coveted New Orleans Trophy for Best Big Band. The Big Bands came from local Bay of Plenty high schools as well as Auckland, North Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.

This competition was judged by Head Judge Dr Rodger Fox, Wellington drummer and percussionist Lauren Ellis, Christchurch saxophonist and leader of the CPIT Aoraki Music Arts Programme Gwyn Reynolds.

Dr Fox, Lauren Ellis, and Gwyn Reynolds gave immediate feedback to each band on their performance in a ten minute interactive workshop on stage.

“The bands are very receptive to feedback and this is showing in the band performances,” says Dr Fox.

There were 4 gold awards presented to Christchurch Boys High School Big Band, Tauranga Boys College Big Band, Pukekohe High School Stage Band, and Trident High Big Band with Trident High Big Band winning the New Orleans Trophy for the Best Big Band and the Best of Festival Trophy for the most outstanding jazz band.

The competition Director Liam Ryan says the National Youth Jazz Competition fosters excellence in jazz performance offering the young competitors unique opportunities to improve their performances.

“We had more bands than we have ever had - they really brought their A game and set a new benchmark for excellence. A big thanks must go out to the school musical directors, young performers who played their hearts out, parents and support teams who came along.

“We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support in hosting this event. It has been a wonderful weekend and it feels more like we are developing a music community than a competition,” concludes Liam Ryan.

The 39th National Youth Jazz Competition is sponsored by Tauranga City Council, TECT, Vanguard Orchestral, CPIT Aoraki, The University of Auckland, SOUNZ, New Zealand School of Music: Victoria University of Wellington, Western Bay of Plenty Creative Communities NZ, Tauranga City Council Creative Communities NZ.

For more information contact:

National Youth Jazz Competition Director Liam Ryan ph 021 0421322

For high res images contact: mandy@jazz.org.nz or ph 0274533425

Award Winners:

SOUNZ Trophy for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Composition: It’s Time by Leon Hattori/Rossini, Western Springs

Best of Festival Trophy for most outstanding jazz band – Trident High Big Band

Big Band Competition

New Orleans Trophy – Most Outstanding Big Band – Trident High Big Band

Plus $500 Vanguard Orchestral prize voucher

Gold Award – Pukekohe High School Stage Band, Tauranga Boys College Big Band, Christchurch Boys High School Big Band, Trident High Big Band

Silver Award – Glendowie College Big Band, Tauranga Girls College Big Band

Bronze Award – Avondale College Big Band, Whangaparaoa College Jazz Band, Hillcrest High School Big Band

Combos Competition

Best Jazz Combo – Norman Family Trophy - Lynfield College Jazz Combo

Gold Award – Tri Bones/Trident High School, Lynfield College Jazz Combo, The Good Vibes/Western Springs, Plum Jam/Tauranga Boys College, Altiora Jazzmen/Christchurch Boys High School

Silver Award – The Whanga Collective/Whangaparaoa College, Dale JC/Avondale College, Noodle Combination/Pukekohe High School, Poss and the Possibilities/Avondale College, KC Jazz Ensemble/Kapiti College, Sextet Pistols/Tauranga Girls College, Kristin Jazz/Kristin College, Strike/Strathallan College, Pukekohe High School Combo, TBC Jazz Combo/Tauranga Boys College, Altiora Funkblasters/Christchurch Boys High School, Kerikeri High School Jazz Combo

No Bronze Awards

Trophies

Award for innovation – Derek Jacombs Trophy: Altiora Jazzmen/Christchurch Boys High Scholl

Best original composition – Ken Mitchell Trophy: Arjunas Hat by Joshua Parker/Avondale College

Best saxophonist – Yanagisawa Trophy: Andrew Isdale/Lynfield College

Most outstanding bassist – P & S Penman Trophy: Seth Boy/Pukekohe High School

Most outstanding drummer – Hill/Wilcock Trophy: Ryu Kodoma/Lynfield College

Most outstanding Guitarist – Mayers Music Centre Trophy: Bianca Goyena/Tauranga Girls College

Most outstanding keyboard player – Bay City Music Trophy: Akash Dutta/Tauranga Boys College

Most outstanding pianist – Bill Hoffmeister Trophy: Leon Hattori/Rossini, Western Springs College

Most outstanding trombonist – Rodger Fox Trophy: Isaac Roche/Pukekohe High School

Most outstanding trumpet or flugel – Edwina Thorne Trophy: James MacEwan/Rossini, Western Springs College

Most outstanding Big Band drummer – Lauren Ellis Trophy: Dean Gibson/Christchurch High School

Most outstanding vocalist – Dave Feehan Trophy: Elijah Taula/Tauranga Boys College

Most outstanding young musician – George Rawiri Trophy: Ryu Kodama/Lynfield College

Most outstanding clarinettist – Tom Bayliss Trophy: Louis Challies/Kapiti College

Most outstanding flautist – Errol Christiansen Trophy: Sammy McSweeney/Kerikeri High School

Best First Year Performance Band – Dennis Huggard Trophy: Whangaparaoa College Jazz Band

ENDS

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