Pukekohe High School Takes Jazz Title

Pukekohe High School Takes Jazz Big Band Title

A last minute song change may have been just what was needed for Pukekohe High School Stage Band to secure the New Orleans Trophy for Best Big Band in the Port of Tauranga Youth Jazz Competition today.

The competition, now in its 33rd year, takes place today and tomorrow as part of the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga over Easter.

Pukekohe High School Stage Band won the Big Band section against eight other big bands from around the country.

Adjudicator Rodger Fox said the standard among the bands has increased this year which is encouraging for the future of jazz in New Zealand.

“The Big Band section is judged on solo, ensemble and rhythm and the strongest band to demonstrate all three areas was the Pukekohe High School Stage Band.”

Dr Fox also made special mention of the Tauranga Girls’ College Big Band who were “very very close”.

Pukekohe High School Stage Band leader Niels Leffelaar said he was “thrilled for the kids – they have worked incredibly hard and really deserve this.”

He said the band decided to change a song on Tuesday, giving the musicians and vocalist Rochelle Fausett just three days to learn the music and lyrics.

“We have been practicing for months, but one of the pieces just wasn’t working, so we changed it earlier this week and performed Some of My Best Friends’. It was the right decision.”

Pukekohe High School has been a regular entrant in the competition and won ‘Best New Band’ six years ago, but despite winning other jazz competition prizes around the country, the Tauranga prize has been “elusive.

“We have done well at other competitions, but the standard in Tauranga is always very high. This rounds off our trophy cabinet nicely,” Mr Leffelaar said. The $1000 prize money will be put towards the band’s South Island tour later this year.

The Port of Tauranga Youth Jazz Competition continues tomorrow with 15 jazz bands competing in the Combos section.

Pukekohe High School Stage Band and the winners of the Combos section will perform in the More FM Young Guns Showcase on Sunday 4 April at 1.30pm at Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga. Tickets are available from TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) or www.ticketdirect.co.nz. For more information on the National Jazz Festival visit www.jazz.org.nz

ENDS

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