Jazz & Art Combine at the NZ Art Show 2013

15 July 2013

Jazz & Art Combine at the NZ Art Show 2013

Art and Jazz will come together at this year’s NZ Art Show on Wellington’s waterfront. Over three days from Friday, 26th July, three jazz combos from the Jazz school at Te Koki New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) will provide entertaining and inspirational music for the more than 10,000 people expected to visit this year’s Show.

NZ Art Show executive director Carla Russell says, “Jazz is a perfect accompaniment to contemporary art. By bringing the two together at this year’s Show, we hope to provide both a platform for artistic talent and an opportunity for our visitors to appreciate an art form that they might not previously have experienced.”

The three jazz combos that form the ASB Art and All that Jazz component of the programme are all postgraduate ensembles, having gained their Bachelor’s degrees in Jazz performance.

NZSM is a joint venture between Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington and teaches Music Studies, Composition and Sonic Arts, Classical Performance, Jazz and Music Therapy. The school was recently ranked as the Number One tertiary institution in New Zealand for music research.

Norman Meehan, Head of Jazz at NZSM said, "We pride ourselves on the depth and breadth of the degree and postgraduate courses; it is not just about performance – all the students study jazz history, theory and arrangement and they are encouraged to explore a wide variety of jazz styles.

“The school runs three Big Bands, a Jazz Choir, a Latin Ensemble and Fusion band and all our students perform in multiple smaller combos and ensembles. With teachers such as Dr Rodger Fox, Dr Dave Lisik, Associate Professor Paul Dyne and Senior Lecturers Colin Hemmingsen and Mark Donlon, it is small wonder that the students will be presenting outstanding jazz to the Art Show’s visitors.”

“ASB have been a cornerstone sponsor since the Show’s inception in 2004 and recently committed to extending its support of the NZ Art Show for a further three years. That has resulted in them supporting the ASB Art and All that Jazz programme at this year’s Show,” Carla Russell said.

The NZ Art Show will take place in the TSB Bank Arena on Wellington’s waterfront over three days. The Show opens with a Gala Evening on Thursday, 25 July, with open days from Friday, 26 July to Sunday, 28 July 2013.

The Art Show is open to the public by general admission. The art displayed is constantly changing so there is always something different to see. Tickets cost $10 each, concessions $7, with children 12 years and under free.

About the NZ Art Show
The NZ Art Show is an annual three-day art exhibition held each year in Wellington’s Events Centre on Queens Wharf. This year’s show will run from Friday, 26 July to Sunday, 28 July 2013.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the show which was established in 2004 and since then, the event has grown in size, reputation and quality. The exhibition showcases some 3,000 artworks by more than 300 artists; it is the largest curated art sale of its kind in this country. Since its inception, it has sold over $7 million worth of art, returning over $6 million back to artists – making the show a significant contributor to New Zealand’s arts community.

A gala evening is held on the eve of the show’s opening to the public (Thursday 25 July).
All tickets can be purchased through www.artshow.co.nz

The New Zealand Art Show is governed by the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT). Its vision is to promote New Zealand artists and help them access resources and opportunities to further their development, and to promote the appreciation of New Zealand art to the wider public.

The NZAAT is a registered charity (# CC28710) under the Charities Act 2005.

ENDS

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