We are very pleased to announce that Rodger Fox will be joining us for the Youth Jazz Event near the end of September. The Nelson Jazz Club invites your students to benefit from Rodger’s vast experience by participating in this youth-focussed event, for free! We intend that this will enable students to build on their experiences playing jazz with Rodger when he visited earlier in the year, further encourage them to develop their skill in playing this style of music, and provide useful feedback for the schools.

Bands will be awarded Bronze, Silver, or Gold awards based on their level of achievement. This change has been made in response to comments we have received from many of you, and will avoid the difficult situation of different sized bands of varying abilities competing against each other. Hopefully it will also encourage the engagement of students in bands that are not ‘competition ready’.

There will be no formal workshop this year. Instead, after each band has played, Rodger will workshop one of their pieces, and the next band will then play. Bands will be awarded according to their level of achievement, and will receive constructive written feedback from the three judges.

The following cups will also be awarded: Nelson Jazz Festival Cup - best individual performer, Ara Music Arts Cup - most deserving band, Tom Rainey Cup - Best Bass Player, Iain Clarke Cup - Best Woodwind, Liam Ryan Cup - best pianist. Highly Commended Certificates will be awarded to standout players.