History and ProfileThe Jazz Education Program at North Sydney Boys' High School is wideley regarded as one of the finest and most comprehensive in Australia, a benchmark of excellence in it's field. Students of Jazz at the school have the opportunity to play as section members in one of three big bands, and also to study improvisation and small group playing techniques in one of our four Jazz combos. The program caters for students at all levels from novice to tertiary entrance. An important feature of our program is frequent contact with leading professional musicians through clinics, master classes, private tuition and guest performances. Such artists have included John Clayton, James Morrison, Bobby Shew, John Fedchock, Don Rader, Carl Allen, Bob Montgomery, Don Burrows, Jerry Nowak, John Morrison, Dick Montz, Keith Javors, John Kuzmich Jr, and David Theak. The North Sydney Big Band 1, our senior big band, was the first Australian group to successfully audition for the International Association for Jazz Education conference, held in New York City January 2004. Jazz groups and students from North Sydney Boys' High School appear regularly at festivals, social, community and educational events throughout Sydney and NSW. Graduates of our program can be found studying Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Canberra School of Music, and other tertiary institutions across eastern Australia, as well as making their mark as young professionals in the local Jazz scene. This is a co-curricular program, with all rehearsals taking place outside of school hours. Students pay a small fee to participate in the ensembles. The Jazz ensembles complement a fine orchestral, choral and concert band co-curricular program. The Jazz ensembles in the school are:
International Tour: UK, Barbados, USA 2006The acclaimed North Sydney Boys' High School Big Band 1,will embark on its third international tour in January 2006. The itinerary will include performances and workshops in London, Bridgetown, New York, Orlando, Cocoa Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key West.
Jazz groups for hireAll of our Jazz bands are available for hire, an important source of fundraising for our Jazz program. We can provide anything from two players up to a full 21 - piece big band. Contact us for more details.Some of our recent clients and performances have included:
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