The country's best young jazz musicians will show off their talents at the Graham Young Youth Centre at Tauranga Boys' College next month.

The 18 piece New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra will be joined by American trumpet soloist Scott Wendholt and Christchurch vocalist Ella Dunbar-Wilcox for the special one-off show on July 23.

The 18-piece New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra and special guests will be performing at Tauranga Boys' College on July 23. Photo: NZYJO/Facebook

The orchestra will be directed by New Zealand School of Music senior lecturers Rodger Fox and Dave Lisik.

These young musicians will perform a cross section of big band music from jazz standards to original compositions, plus arrangements from trumpeter Scott Wendholt.

Rodger Fox says the 20 and under jazz orchestra includes top secondary school students and first year university musicians, selected from nearly a hundred auditions.

'The Tauranga audience will be hearing the jazz virtuosos of the future.

'Scott Wendholt is a huge talent. He's a member of the top New York big band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, which plays every Monday night at the legendary Village Vanguard in the Big Apple.”

The New Zealand Jazz Foundation sent out audition pieces earlier in the year and the entrants replied with a jazz etude and two improvisations.

The auditions also include a jazz vocal section and, of the 15 who sent back their online entry, Ella Dunbar-Wilcox was chosen.”

The New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Rodger Fox and Dave Lisik perform at Graham Young Youth Theatre At Tauranga Boys' College on Thursday, July 23 at 5.30pm.

Tickets, priced at $10 (cash only), are available on the door or by emailing: [email protected]

American trumpet soloist Scott Wendholt will be joining the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra when they perform in Tauranga next month. Photo: Supplied