Big Band 1This is our premier large Jazz ensemble. It is a 21 piece Big Band made up from our senior musicians. By the time a player joins this group he has already spent several years performing with the junior and intermediate groups. Stage Band 1 performs extensively around the Sydney area at public venues and at private functions. They are regulars at the Manly International Jazz Festival as well as at the Merimbula Jazz Festival. This award-winning group has also appeared at the Espoo International Jazz Festival in Finland and has toured the UK, playing at clubs such as the Bulls Head in London and the Fiddle and Bone in Birmingham. The band has performed in Sydney with Australian Jazz legend James Morrison and has recorded three CDs which are available for sale. "This band set the standard that others follow." "I congratulate you on a fine performance in New York! It was wonderful. You all looked like you were having such a great time and the tunes really cooked!...Your group captured the essence of what I'm trying to establish here at home, a really fine band that can swing and have fun at the same time." Timothy S. Hicks Director of Bands, St. Mark's School of Texas, 2004 "We were very impressed with your group...It's a great band, and obviously under great leadership." Dr Keith Javors, Director of Jazz Ensemble I, University of Northern Florida, 2004. "Excellent" Jack Bowers, AllAboutJazz.com, 2004 "They are a credit to you, to your school and to your country." Bob Quatman, North Fort Myers High School, Florida, 2004 "The best high school jazz playing I have ever adjudicated" John Morrison, 1998 "A lovely big band!" Marti Lappinanen, Director Espoo Int. Jazz Festival, 2000 The current members of the band are: Alto Sax 1 Wyatt Roy Trumpet 1 Matt Connor Trombone 1 Grant Arthur Piano Andrew Chessher
Big Band 2This band is for our better musicians who already have experience in playing Jazz in the Junior Big Band or the Combos. Those who excel in this group and show a keen interest in Jazz may be invited to audition for Stage Band 1. Stage Band 2 is kept busy with performances at school events and in the local community. They are also regulars at the Merimbula Jazz Festival, where they never fail to delight the audience with their talent and infectious enthusiasm. Alto Sax 1 Jonathan Tan Trumpet 1 Matthew Collins Trombone 1 Nial Edwards-Fitzsimmons Piano Albert Lee
Big Band 3This is a large Jazz band specially for Year seven, eight and nine students. It rehearses on Monday mornings at 8:00 in the assembly hall. Any boy who is interested in playing in a Jazz group, and has at least basic competency on his instrument, is welcome to join Big Band. It is strongly recommended that Big Band members should also participate in Concert Band or Orchestra. Big Band performs at local community events, such as the Crows Nest Fair, Lane Cove Plaza and North Sydney Markets as well as at school functions and concerts at other schools. Big Band participates in the annual "Jazz Workshop", a weekend during which leading Australian and International Jazz educators work intensively with our students. Saxes: Adam Condon Toby Nalbandian Vincent Pan (as); Jonathan Savery Arjun Bagga Chris Ng (ts), Toby Pettigrew (bs) Clarinets: Ivan Cheng, Andrew Burfor, Adrian Wong Trumpets: Adam Disney, Alex Yuen, Marcus Tomaino, Kieran Donelly, Alex Harrison, Frank Zhou, Matthew Wang, Ray Bisht Trombones: Douglas Cameron, Hugh Brigden, Doug Hammersley Rhythm: Alan Yeung (pno);Ryan O'Donell (bass); Joel Sercombe, Angus Reoch, James Green,(drums/percussion); Daniel Rodgers (vibes).
Jazz CombosThese are small Jazz groups which give some of our most talented musicians the chance to practice this style of playing and to study improvisation in depth. There are combos involving junior through to senior students. A pre-requisite for auditioning for a senior combo is experience in junior ensembles plus excellent instrumental facility and a knowledge of major and minor scales and arpeggios in every key. The combos perform frequently at numerous school functions as well as many high-profile public events and festivals. Our audiences have included Prime Ministers, Premiers, Ministers, Ambassadors and business and academic leaders. These groups are available for hire.
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