40th National Youth Jazz Competition

40th NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ COMPETITION

This Easter celebrates the 40th anniversary of the National Youth Jazz Competition being held in Tauranga.

The National Youth Jazz Competition started in 1978 at the 16th Tauranga Jazz Festival; back then it was called the Youth Band Competition and was the High School Division of the Big Band Contest with three bands competing for one prize. The winner was Wellington’s Mana College Stage Band led by Rodger Fox. This year’s competition sees 19 secondary schools from as far afield as Kerikeri and Wellington competing for 21 Trophies and prizes. There are 320 students performing in 12 Big Bands and 14 Combos over the two days of the competition.

National Youth Jazz Competition Director Liam Ryan says the event provides a place for young emerging musicians to meet, learn from, and work with other performers and leading experts.

“For 40 years’ students throughout New Zealand and overseas have gathered at Easter to compete for trophies at the National Youth Jazz Competition. Over that time, we have hosted thousands of talented performers and been privileged to have some of the world’s best jazz exponents on our judging panels. We have staged memorable workshops, had some amazing performances and we have produced some of the nation's most outstanding jazz players - many of whom are now professional players around the world like Nathan Haines and Hollie Smith.

“The Competition is committed to excellence in performance - this year’s judging panel includes two esteemed international judges Dewayne Pate and Matt Harris from USA, working alongside leaders from the three major New Zealand tertiary Jazz Degree programmes.

“The Prizegiving will feature a performance by Pleasuredome featuring students from the University of Auckland jazz programme. We hope that younger school students will be inspired to see what jazz degree students can achieve. The whole idea of the competition is for students to inspire each other.”

The National Youth Jazz Competition is held as part of the National Jazz Festival and is proudly hosted by Tauranga Jazz Society.

“I’m so proud to be part of the team that has brought this remarkable festival to our community for so long,” says Tauranga Jazz Society President Wayne Melville. “We have fostered the emerging stars of tomorrow through our National Youth Jazz Competition for 40 years.”

The 2017 National Youth Jazz Competition will be held at Baycourt Theatre on Thursday 13 April and Good Friday 14 April. Prizes and awards will be presented at the awards concert at 5.00pm on Good Friday.

There is an exhibition showcasing 40 years of the National Youth Jazz Competition in the foyer at Baycourt until 18 April 2017.

ENDS

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