Scotch College

Generations in jazz

Scotch Big Bands perform at the 2009 ‘Generations in Jazz’

WORDS: Mr ROGER SCHMIDLI − HEAD OF BRASS AND HEAD OF BANDS

Scotch musicians wowed the audience in Mt Gambier in an event regarded as the second largest of its kind in the world

In May this year, Scotch’s two most senior big bands travelled to the National Stage Band competition, the ‘Generations in Jazz’ weekend in Mt Gambier, South Australia. This is an enormous event held every year (in fact the second largest of its kind in the world) attracting 2,500 secondary school musicians.

The group of 37 students and staff experienced an inspirational and very successful weekend with both bands performing superbly in a pressure-filled environment, much to our pleasure. The Monday Big Band, under the direction of Ms Megan Philip finished seventh in a very high standard division three. Scotch Show Band, directed by Mr Roger Schmidli competed in division two, an extremely competitive section featuring 28 bands, finishing only two points outside the places in fourth position.

Of particular note were the performances of two of our Year 8 boys. Each year at this event a ‘super-band’ is selected from all the students in competing bands, singling out the best students on each instrument to perform as a 17 piece band at the final concert on the Sunday. Ben Silagy and Benjamin Strathmore were selected as third trombone and first tenor saxophone respectively in their division’s super-band. This was a source of great excitement within the group on Saturday night when the bands were announced, and was a truly outstanding achievement by two such young musicians.

The weekend included big bands from schools that travelled from all around Australia and it was exciting to see Scotch College so well represented at this highly regarded musical event. Thanks must go to all students involved and the accompanying staff, Mr Peter Rickard, Mr David Musk, Ms Megan Philip and Mr Roger Schmidli. GS