42nd National Youth Jazz Competition Winners Announced
The 42nd National Youth Jazz Competition held at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre on Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April featured the most competitors in its 42-year history says National Youth Jazz Competition Director Liam Ryan.
“We had a record number of 380 registrations from 21 secondary schools as far and wide as Wellington to Kerikeri.” Says National Youth Jazz Competition Manager Liam Ryan.
The judges’ Dr Rodger Fox and Dave Wilson from New Zealand School of Music (NZSM), , Gwyn Reynolds, Mike Story and Joe McCallum from ARA Christchurch, and Dixon Nacey from University of Auckland were impressed by the standard of performance from the young musicians.
Head Judge Dr. Rodger Fox felt the standard of combos and big bands was improving year to year, in large part due to the schools returning to the competition and building on their performances each time.
“It’s very encouraging to see the competition continuing to grow; it shows it is valued by the schools,” says Dr Fox. “The bands are very receptive to feedback and this is showing in the band performances. It’s great to see students really working on improvisational playing.”
After performing the combos and big bands had a workshop with a judge receiving immediate feedback on their performance.
Manager Liam Ryan says this year’s National Youth Jazz Competition showcased the best of youth jazz in the country.
“The standard of performances is incredibly high, with jazz becoming a popular part of the New Zealand school music curriculum.The students blew us away again this year with their musicality and their enthusiasm.
“It’s great to see the students preforming in a limousine theatre like Baycourt’s Addison theatre – they get the full experience of performing on a big stage to a large appreciative audience. We love that Tauranga comes out and supports them too.”
He adds that the National Youth Jazz Competition is a major logistical exercise for schools and for the organising team.
“A big thank you must go out to the school musical directors, young performers who played their hearts out, parents and support teams who came along and make it happen.”
The Best of Festival Trophy for the most outstanding jazz band was presented to Thomas the Tank Engine from Tauranga Girls College with the New Orleans Trophy for most outstanding Big Band going to Tauranga Boys College. The Norman Family Trophy for Best Jazz Combo was won by Auckland Grammar School.
“We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support in hosting this event. It has been a wonderful two days of youth jazz and it feels more like we are developing a national music community than a competition,” concludes Liam Ryan.
The 42nd National Youth Jazz Competition is sponsored by Tauranga City Council, TECT, ARA, The University of Auckland, New Zealand School of Music: Victoria University of Wellington, SAE Institute, Music Planet, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Pub Charity, Grassroots Trust, The Southern Trust, Dr Toot.
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National Youth Jazz Competition Trophies |
Winners Names |
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NEW ORLEANS TROPHY FOR THE MOST OUTSTANDING BIG BAND |
Tauranga Boys’ College |
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NORMAN FAMILY TROPHY FOR THE BEST JAZZ COMBO |
Auckland Grammar School Combo |
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GEORGE RAWIRI TROPHY for the Most Outstanding Young Musician |
Benjamin Lerner, Auckland Grammar School |
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BEST OF FESTIVAL TROPHY- Most Outstanding Jazz Band |
Thomas The Tank Engine, Tauranga Girls’ College |
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SOUNZ TROPHY – Best performance of a NZ composition |
“Queen of Hearts” Kerikeri High School Jazz Band |
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RODGER FOX TROPHY – Most Outstanding Trombonist |
Reuben Stephens, Tauranga Boys’ College |
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DAVE FEEHAN TROPHY – Most Outstanding Vocalist |
Ngarangi Sadlier-Patmore, Sacred Heart College |
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EDWINA THORNE TROPHY – Most Outstanding Trumpet or Flugel |
James Robinson, Tauranga Boys’ College |
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TOM BAYLISS TROPHY – Most Outstanding Clarinetist |
Gillian Toala, Kerikeri High School |
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MAYERS MUSIC CENTRE TROPHY – Most Outstanding Guitarist |
Elijah McPherson, Auckland Grammar |
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BAY CITY MUSIC TROPHY – Most Outstanding Keyboard Player |
Samuel Wilcox-Brown, Whangaparaoa College |
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P&S PENMAN TROPHY – Most Outstanding Bassist |
Thomas J Moore, Rongotai College |
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HILL/WILCOCK TROPHY – Most Outstanding Drummer |
Tivoli Levi, Auckland Grammar |
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BILL HOFFMEISTER TROPHY – Most Outstanding Pianist |
Troy Weenink, Tauranga Boys’ College |
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ERROL CHRISTIANSEN TROPHY – Most Outstanding Flautist |
Ririn Takana, Kuranui College |
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YANAGISAWA TROPHY – Most Outstanding Saxophonist |
Benjamin Lerner, Auckland Grammar School |
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BAKER/ALLEN TROPHY – Best Arrangement |
“Smoke On The Water” Diminished 5th Combo, Kerikeri High School |
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KEN MITCHELL TROPHY – Best Original Composition |
“Rifflections”, James Dawes, Diminished 5th, Kerikeri High School |
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DENNIS HUGGARD TROPHY – Best First Year Performance Band |
St Cuthbert’s College Stage Band |
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DEREK JACOMBS TROPHY – Award for Innovation |
Diminshed 5th Combo, Kerikeri High School |
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LAUREN ELLIS TROPHY – Best Big Band Drummer |
Rex McKee, Rongotai College |
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BIG BAND AWARDS |
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GOLD |
Auckland Grammar School |
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Tauranga Boys’ College |
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Pukekohe High School |
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Westlake Girls & Westlake Boys High School |
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SILVER |
Avondale College |
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Rongotai College |
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St Cuthberts College |
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Orewa College |
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Wellington College and Wellington Girls College |
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Otumoetai College |
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St Peters College |
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Trident High School |
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Bethlehem College |
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St Pauls Collegiate |
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COMBO AWARDS |
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GOLD |
Mason Jar – Tauranga Boys College |
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Avondale College Quartet |
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Thomas the Tank Engine – Tauranga Girls College |
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Auckland Grammar Combo |
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Isn’t It – Rongotai College |
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SILVER |
Five Spot Combo – Avondale College |
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No Time for Kai – Tauranga Boys College |
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Diminished 5th – Kerikeri High School |
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52nd Street Combo – Avondale College |
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Route 65 – Sacred Heart College Upper Hutt |
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Milestones – St Cuthberts College |
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PHS Quintet – Pukekohe High School |
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Whangaparaoa College Senior Jazz Combo |
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BRONZE |
Blue Note Combo – Avondale College |
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Kerikeri High School Jazz Band |
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Kikorangi – Kuranui College |
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Whangaparaoa College Stage Combo |
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