Our award-winning jazz musicians

By Dr William Martin | Posted: Tuesday August 6, 2024

All Blues, the Otago Boys' and Girls' High School Jazz Band, are to be congratulated for being the overall winners of the Big Band competition at the Dunedin Youth Jazz Festival, held at Hanover Hall on August 3.

They earned the highest score at the festival from adjudicator Oscar Laven and received a Gold Award.

The band directed by Dr Martin also took out the award of the "Best Swing" piece, for their rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight" which featured Maya Satake.

Musicians from both schools also took out individual awards, including:

Rata Williams (Year 13, OGHS, best performance on drums)

Callan Power (Year 9, OBHS, best performance on tenor saxophone)

Katherine McArthur (Year 13, OGHS, best performance on baritone saxophone)

Maya Satake (Year 13, OGHS, Most Promising Vocalist)

Nikita Lu (Year 12, OGHS, Most Promising Trombonist)

The band are now set to embark on a tour of Blenheim as part of their participation in the Southern Jam Festival.

Minor Blues, the small combo from Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools, also received a Silver Award for their renditions of Joe Henderson's "Recordame" and Gerry Mulligan's "Bernie's Tune".