The successful Wright Family Foundation 46th National Youth Jazz Competition has had a record number of entries from secondary schools around New Zealand.

Held at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, Tauranga from Tuesday March 26 to Thursday March 28, the competition featured 600 secondary school students performing in 23 big bands and 48 combos says National Youth Jazz Competition Manager Liam Ryan.

“We had a record number of registrations from 31 secondary schools as far and wide as Wellington to Orewa,” says Liam.

“The competition continues to grow year on year which speaks volumes about the amount of jazz being played in secondary schools.”

'All the King's Horses' from King's College won Best of Festival Trophy for Most Outstanding Jazz Band. Photo: Supplied.

The judges -  Dr Rodger Fox, and Eilish Wilson from Victoria University of Wellington/ NZ School of Music, Lana Law from the All Girl Big Band Christchurch, and Ben Wilcock from Toi Ohomai  - are impressed by the standard of excellence of performance from the young musicians.

Head Judge Dr Rodger Fox feels the standard of combos and big bands is 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.”

Pukekohe High School Stage Band won the New Orleans Trophy for Best Big Band. Photo: Supplied.

After performing the combos and big bands had a workshop with a judge and received immediate feedback on their performance - a total of 144 performances and workshops.

Liam 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 now embedded into the New Zealand school music curriculum.  The students blew us away again this year with their musicality, their enthusiasm, and their energy.

“A big thank you must go 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 All the King’s Horses Combo from King’s College with the New Orleans Trophy for most outstanding big band going to Pukekohe High School Stage Band.

The George Rawiri Trophy for the best musician was won by Ted Coop from King’s College.

The Norman Family Trophy for Best Jazz Combo was won North Sea Combo from Rangitoto College.

The Tauranga Jazz Society Trophy for the Best Combo Musician was won by Minho Choi from ACG Strathallan College.

Tauranga Boys’ College students who took home trophies were Michael van Lieshout, winner of the Mayers Music Centre Trophy for Best Guitarist and Ollie Farquharson, winner of the Edwina Thorne Trophy for Best Trumpet player.

“We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support in hosting this event. Especially our naming sponsor the Wright Family Foundation – with their help we have been able to grow the depth of the Competition adding more performance opportunities for the students to mix it up and jam with other school bands,” says Liam.

“It was a great experience for the students and overall, it has been a wonderful three days of youth jazz and it feels more like we are developing a national jazz community than a competition.” 

The 46th National Youth Jazz Competition is sponsored by Tauranga City Council, TECT, Wright Family Foundation, New Zealand School of Music: Victoria University of Wellington, SAE Institute, Music Planet, Dr Toot, Youth Jazz Band-it.