Outstanding success for Jazz Combo at Southern Jam this year

In early August our Jazz combo travelled to Blenheim to perform and compete for 4 days in the prestigious Southern Jam Youth Jazz festival. This followed a period of intensive preparation and fundraising.

Band members:

Sid Hoggard-Wells - drums        Zaiya Lemanu - bass     Lachie Platt - guitar

Roddy MacPherson - keyboard    Toby Isherwood - sax

Musical Director: Glyn MacDonald

The band performed at multiple venues in Blenheim, Raupara and Picton during the week. A solid performance in the Wednesday competition was well received by the judges, who were later to award the band a Gold award. The next steps advice from the judges centred on the band improving its capacity to play interactively in live time. Over the next few days the judges heard the band play at venues where they put that advice into practice with stunning results. At the Saturday evening grand finale Gala Night (held at ASB Theatre in Blenheim) the competition results were announced. The judges from New Zealand School of Music recognised our students' skill, cohesion and musical development throughout the week with the following awards:

The Peter Bargh Trophy for Overall Competition winners: Hagley College combo

Outstanding Musician: Zaiya Lemanu

Outstanding Rhythm Section Player: Zaiya Lemanu

Best Guitarist: Lachie Platt

Best Improviser: Lachie Platt

This was the first time that our school has been overall winners of the competition! Observers for other schools like Cashmere HS, STAC, Rangi Ruru, Christ College et al. were unanimous in their praise and admiration for the band’s level of performance skill. An exciting sidenote is that due to the band being relatively young, four members of the group are eligible to attend and compete in the festival again next year.