The sweetest of jams

WILLIAM WOODWORTH

After three days of jazzy tunes in venues across the region, the 2023 Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival came to its crescendo at the ASB Theatre on Saturday night. With each of the 14 student bands performing across three days across Marlborough, as well as going through masterclass practices with the esteemed judging team of Dr Rodger Fox, Dr Dave Wilson and Erna Ferry throughout the weekend, musicians had a jam-packed schedule of travel and performances.

Organiser Katrina Lange said that this year’s Southern Jam was a smash hit with all involved singing the praises of the quality of jazz, the appreciation of the crowd and the mentality of all the students taking part.

“It was an absolutely phenomenal few days of music, and long time judges and teachers saying it was the best Southern Jam so far.

“The judges were blown away with the standard of the schools that attended and the calibre of student musicians they got to work with, and said it surpassed anything they’ve seen from the North Island”.

“We’ve seen so much positivity from everyone involved, so we couldn’t be happier”.

Individual musicians were acknowledged for their success by being chosen in the one-nightonly All Stars Band – but Katrina kept one Gold Standard award aside.

“Middleton Grange School’s trombonist Josh Judkins received a special Gold Standard award for recognition of his musical integrity and enthusiasm – he’s only year 8, 12 years old, so one of the youngest performers but showed so much support for all the other artists and got a huge round of applause for his efforts”, says Katrina.

The big winners on the final night were Rangi Ruru Girls’ School Ensemble, taking home the Peter Bargh Trophy for overall champions, while Papanui High School won the Coral & Tony Thiel Award for Best Combo and Shirley Boys’ High School Senior Big Band winning the Marlborough District Council Trophy for Best Big Band.

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