HIGH SCHOOLS BIG BAND CONCERT Scotch College, Mt Lawley Senior High School, Churchlands SHS

Mon 31 Aug 2009 @ 8:00pm

Admission Members $10, Student members $5, Guests $15

THIS big band event is in support of local schools that have excelled in performing our kind of music - jazz. We are delighted to be able to present you with a varied programme of high quality music by exciting young musicians. You won't be disappointed!

PJS, as part of its mission statement, sponsors and encourages the development of jazz in all its forms by promoting and supporting jazz studies in local secondary schools and colleges. We do this through the Smarter than Smoking High School Jazz workshop series, which we administer on behalf of Healthway and the Smokefree (WA) campaign.

Perth Jazz Society also supports jazz in schools through the newly formed Australian Jazz Education Association (AJEA) which came to life after the sudden collapse of the IJEA last year.

THE BANDS

Mt Lawley Senior High School, Scotch College, Churchlands SHS.

Mt Lawley SHS Big Band 1 was originally formed in 1992 as a blues band under the leadership of Brian Copping. Later that year, they were invited to play at the Christmas Creole Festival in New Orleans. The big band has evolved from year to year under the leadership of various jazz directors. Their current musical director is Tessie Palmyre who has recently returned to Perth from working and playing in Melbourne. Mt Lawley SHS Big Band 1 consists of a mixture of upper and middle school students, many of whom study jazz in classroom music and they play an array of jazz, latin and funk pieces. They are performing at the upcoming WA Schools’ Jazz Festival on the 5th of September at Scotch College and again at the school’s Senior Concert at the WA Academy of Performing Arts on the 12th of September. They will be performing their Jazz Festival repertoire as part of their Perth Jazz Society set. Mt Lawley SHS will also feature their jazz quartet at the concert.

The Scotch College Big Band One was originally formed in 1995. The band has featured each year in the College’s Annual Jazz Night where students have performed with guest artists including Don Burrow’s, Graeme Lyall, James Sandon, Matt Jodrell, WAYJO, Will Upson Big Band and Sabrason. Their musical director is Tim Simpson who is Head of Brass at Scotch. They are performing at the upcoming WA Schools Jazz Festival and will include some of their Jazz Festival repertoire as part of their Perth Jazz Society set. The Scotch Dixie Band will also feature during the set, this ensemble was formed in 2004 and this year is directed by Garry Lee. They have become one of the feature ensembles in the schools jazz program and have been awarded the Early Music Prize in recent years at the WA Schools Jazz Festival.