A snapshot from the NZSM 2016 Jazz Project

The 2016 Jazz Project took place from 8 – 10 June at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (Victoria University of Wellington) and the Opera House.

American jazz vocalist and five-time Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson and the Tom Warrington Trio were the guest artists, and 227 secondary school students were registered in jazz big bands and combos for the event, along with 51 teachers and supporters. We had schools from Nelson, Auckland, Hastings, Christchurch, Wellington, Whangarei, Feilding and Tauranga take part.

The Jazz Project took place during the Wellington Jazz Festival (8-12 June), and as part of this, NZSM presented Karrin Allyson with the Tom Warrington Trio and NZSM Big Band at the Opera House on Thursday 9 June. You can read a review of the concert.

Congratulations to all the award winners at the NZSM Jazz Project 2016

• Best Performance, Big Band - Burnside High School
• Best Performance, Combo - Rangi Ruru Girls School
• Most Outstanding Young Musician - Seth Boy, Pukekohe High School

Most Outstanding

• Piano: Joseph Kaptein, Whangarei High School
• Bass: Seth Boy, Pukekohe High School
• Guitar: Matt Howes, Burnside HIgh School
• Drums/Percussion: Karen Hu, Rangi Ruru Girls School
• Voice: Ella Dunbar-Wilcox, Burnside High School
• Saxophone: Ben Gailer, Rangitoto College
• Trumpet: Bella Thomas, Rangitoto College
• Trombone: Isaac Roche, Pukekohe High School
• Original Composition: Seth Boy, Pukekohe High School
• Arrangement: Seth Boy, Pukekohe High School.
• Adjudicator's Commendation: Felix Backhouse, Burnside High School
• Winner of the NZSM Improvisation Competition: Hamish Smith, Burnside High School