Stage Band Success at Young Jazz Band It

‘Young Jazz Band It’ is a National Jazz competition set up to provide a platform for Big Bands, combos and solo artists on a par with the National Big Sing competition for choirs and the national Rockquest for contemporary ensembles. It allows Big Bands from throughout the country to audition online for a national competition without the expense of travel.

46 school Big Bands entered the inaugural event through online auditions; from this ten bands were chosen to compete in the finals held at Victoria University on the first Saturday of the recent holidays.

The Stage Band were very honoured to be chosen as one of these groups. The bands were required to play two pieces from a selection of Dave Dobbyn songs arranged for Big Bands; Loyal and Slice of Heaven, as well as two pieces of their own choice. 

After a day of very strong performances by all the Bands involved, the PNBHS Stage Band placed second winning a $2,500 voucher from Musicworks. This officially now places them as one of the top groups in the country. PNBHS Stage Band have consistently performed at this level for the last ten years. A record that requires a huge amount of hard work and commitment from the boys and is a testament to the expertise and hard work by band director and Old Boy Mr Neville Lauridsen. Mr Lauridsen was himself the Leader of Concert Band as a student at Palmerston North Boys’ High School.