The LPHS Big Bad Big Band has had an absolutely jam-packed year, in the best way possible.

Firstly, we decided to officially name ourselves the Big Bad Big Band. I’m pretty sure we can all agree that an alliterated band name is the key to success. Therefore, it will not come as a surprise that from this moment forward, the band continued to become bigger, badder, and better.

We kick-started the year by winning 1st place at the Dunedin Youth Inaugural Jazz Festival, which we were stoked about. Many band members received prestigious individual awards at this competition and were selected, by audition, into the newly formed Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra. Congratulations! Following these major successes, our collective focus during rehearsals was not only to pursue our passion for jazz, and to create divine jazzy sounds, but also to compress the ever-inflating ego of the band.

For the remainder of the year, the band maintained a healthy presence in Dunedin, performing at the Saturday Farmer’s market multiple times to a highly engaged audience. We have two promising upcoming gigs in the summer holidays: a Friday evening retirement home performance, and a gig at the Dunedin Town Hall with the RSA choir.

Inarguably, the most exciting piece of news from the band is the announcement that we are going to Australia next April! The whole band is buzzing! We are kicking off our adventure in Melbourne, where we will attend a Master class workshop at Monash University, go on two high school exchanges, experience live music at jazz clubs and go sightseeing. We then head to Mt Gambier, where we will (hopefully) excel in our adjudicated performance, and meet many jazz greats! Not to mention, we will visit Ballarat Wildlife Park, in order to impart our jazz knowledge on the eager koalas and kangaroos.

Fundraising has already commenced, with a highly successful Boosted campaign greatly aiding our cause. Notably, our car wash fundraiser was a major hit, raising over one grand. Additionally, three band members spoke on Otago Access Radio, and informed the community of our exciting future endeavours. We want to say a humongous thanks to everyone who has devoted a monumental amount of time to make this fundraising happen. Keep an eye out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to be the first to hear about more exciting fundraising extravaganzas!

Finally, we all want to say a huge thanks to Mr Dodd for making jazz band such a blast this year, as well as an invaluable learning experience. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Big Bad Big Band!