More than 600 secondary students from across New Zealand will perform in The Wright Family Foundation 46th National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga this week.

The three full days of performances – to showcase New Zealand’s best emerging young jazz players – is part of The Port of Tauranga 61st National Jazz Festival.

National Youth Jazz Competition manager Liam Ryan says the event just keeps on growing every year!

“Last year we had 43 combos and 20 big bands. This year – at last count – we’ve got 48 Combos and 23 big bands. That’s 71 bands and more than 600 kids – it’s huge!”

Women in jazz

And this year will shine a light on women in jazz. Liam says NZ’s music industry in general has been focusing on women for the last few years – including APRA and the recording industry.

“There’s a focus on bringing women to the front of the room, you know.

“All the tertiary music and jazz courses have a real push to elevate the profile of women in the music industry, including those in studios and the technical areas such as audio engineering, producing etc.

"So we’ve basically joined with that philosophy.

"And Year 12-13 young women definitely have a set of skills that we need to see more of in the industry – such as communication and diplomacy, and just generally creative skills.

"I guess it’s a nod to diversity at large – but to women in particular.”

To promote the idea Liam has lined up Lana Law – musical director of the All Girl Big Band, which will perform their ‘Powerhouse of Sound’ show in the jazz festival at Baycourt on March 28 – to judge the big bands alongside Dr Rodger Fox.

And Louisa Williamson – who has a Master’s in Jazz and is 2023’s APRA Best Jazz Composition Award winner for her composition ‘Dream Within A Dream’ – will judge the combos alongside Toi Ohomai and jazz pianist Ben Wilcock.

‘Your future in jazz’ 

This year’s panel discussion on March 27 will have the judges talk on ‘Your future in Jazz’.

“This will talk about pathways, so students coming out of Year 12-13 know how to get into jazz study courses but also the music industry at large,” says Liam.

Baycourt’s Addison and X Space theatres will host the youth competition for three days.

Each band is on the schedule to play once between March 26-28.

Combos perform three pieces including set piece ‘All Blues’ by Miles Davis.

The big bands play four pieces, including set piece ‘Nilesology’ written by Bill Cunliffe.

“The students, musical directors and teachers started rehearsing end of last year – so the kids arrive backstage, very excited and very nervous about playing in front of judges.”

Once they’ve performed, judges come on-stage and workshop the band in front of the audience

“Right in front of your eyes, you see bands go from one level to another. It’s really quite amazing!

“So it’s more than a competition. It's really about jazz – and jazz education,” says Liam.

The Wright Family Foundation 46th National Youth Jazz Competition is at Baycourt 8:30am-5pm March 26-28.

Admission is: Full Day $20, Half Day $12, three-day ticket $50. Under-15s gain free entry.

Get tickets at: https://jazz.org.nz/