Labour Weekend saw our jazz band take part in the Big Band Festival, Kids in Town, Junior Jazz Jam and a range of workshops!

Our band enjoyed playing in a full range of events alongside 25 other Big Bands from around NZ and the USA of all ages. 

Members also got to attend optional workshops with Rodger Fox, Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Allen Vezutti, Matthew Marshall and Bruce Foreman and attend their concerts.

The first day of the festival focussed on youth bands (seven primary school jazz bands) and was held at Tūranga Central Library.  At Junior Jazz Jam we are grateful for the support and feedback from three ARA Jazz tutors, Gwyn Reynolds, Cameron Pearce and Darren Pickering. It was exciting to have music teachers from the USA Ellensburg Big Band visit Chisnallwood and attend our performances that day too, then to catch their great playing over the next couple of days at the Festival. The rest weekend was full of adult and high school bands playing all around central Christchurch, with Chisnallwood also playing in the Monday Picnic in Victoria Square. Ronan McKersey just hopped off the plane in time to play at this having just achieved 8th in the north Island BMX championships, and Laura Powley had just achieved merit in her Grade 5 clarinet exam that week. Congratulations to those two, the whole band, and thanks to parents for the support over the weekend.

By Judith Bell