The Burnside Big Band is an auditioned 21 piece band made up of a variety of talented musicians from years 9 to 13 who enjoy playing a mix of traditional jazz tunes as well as popular music arranged for Big Band.

The year kicked off with the annual Living Springs camp alongside Symphonic band and the Orchestra which was held in term one. This was a fun camp that involved lots of intensive rehearsals with specialised tutors as well as time for socialising, relaxing and riding the famous monorail and ended with a casual concert to parents and friends. The second main event of the year was the Jazzquest competition held at Ara at which the band won a gold award and best big band overall for the thirteenth consecutive year, an achievement of which everyone was very proud.

However, the main event we were working towards and the highlight of the year for the band, was the jazz tour to Palmerston North and Wellington during which the band played alongside many other school bands from around NZ. The trip began with a pre-tour concert to parents held in the Burnside staffroom and this was followed by a series of combined concerts with local bands from Palmerston North and Wellington as well as a fun workshop with Rodger Fox. The trip finished up at the Jazz Band-it competition which was run by the NZ Jazz Foundation and designed to showcase the best high school big bands as well as individual soloists and young composers from around the country. Burnside had a successful day of competing and playing with Big Band winning best big band and William Kao taking third place in the improvisation competition as well as winning first place in the composition category with his composition “Chicks Rumba”. This was a fantastic way to finish the trip and huge thanks to Dr Renaud and Mr Hood for all their hard work organising everything and tolerating us.

The final concerts of the year were the annual gig at the Christchurch Big Band festival and the performance at the senior graduation which sent the Year 13’s off in style. Overall the band has had a fun and successful year of music and we would like to give massive thanks to Mr Petch for his time, leadership and dedication which has enabled the band to be successful and consistently perform to a high level.