All that jazz

Over 120 music students from the Glen Waverley and St Kilda Road campuses performed at the annual Generations in Jazz Music Festival in Mt Gambier, South Australia, recently. The largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, it was truly an amazing three days of music education and inspiration. Our students enjoyed interacting with their peers from across the country and seeing the world’s best musicians demonstrate what they preach in a series of amazing concerts and masterclasses.

Competing against formidable talent from all over Australia in the National Stage Band Awards and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble Awards, all our ensembles gave performances of which they were incredibly proud, with some students receiving individual accolades.

In the Jazz Vocal Ensemble Awards section, Alma Zygier won the inaugural Best Solo Vocalist Award, with a $3,500 scholarship to further her music studies.

In the Division 1 Stage Band Awards, Ben Walter received the Golden Mouthpiece Award for the best lead trumpet player. The award is only made in years where it is felt there is a worthy recipient, with only two previous winners on record.

The following students were selected for the Superband in the Stage Band Awards. Division 1 - Addison Naylor (bass trombone), Nick Williamson (tenor saxophone), Ben Walter (trumpet) and in Division 2, Mason Torner (vibraphone).

All Wesley students should be very proud of their achievements, with our bands and ensembles placed well in their competitive fields. In particular, the College would like to congratulate the St Kilda Road Big Band, which came second in Division 1.

Generations in Jazz has been running for over three decades, with student numbers increasing every year and with over 4,000 participants in 2015 and international artists such as a capella male vocal sextet,Take 6, from the United States performing, this is not an experience our students are likely to forget any time soon.