Generations in Jazz

A fantastic three days event in Mount Gambier was enjoyed by 47 students and 5 staff at the annual Generations in Jazz Festival. With nearly double the number of students attending compared to last year, we knew we would be in for a busy and exciting weekend of music competition. This year, Loreto entered five vocal ensembles and, for the first time, a stage band.
The Generations in Jazz Festival has been running for three decades and this year, was attended by over 6,000 people from all over Australia. It is a national competition of Jazz music in the form of Stage Bands, Small Combos, Large Vocal Ensembles and Small Vocal Ensembles. It draws on industry professionals to present and work with the students over the weekend, and it all culminates in a finale awards concert where we all get to find out how the students fared in their respective competitions.

Congratulations go to the girls in Senior Vocal Ensemble 1, who achieved third place in the highest division – Div 1 Large Vocal Ensemble. And also, to the Senior Vocal Quintet 2 who placed third in the Div 2 Small Vocal Ensemble category. A special mention goes to Iris Hamilton who was awarded a place in the honorary Division 4 ‘Superband’ for Tenor Saxophone. Iris was identified as the best Tenor Saxophone player on the day in Division 4. This was particularly connected to her beautiful Clarinet solo in the choice Ballad performed by the band.Thanks must go to the staff who coordinated, supported and directed the ensembles across the three-day trip – Stacey Theel (Vocal Director), Elicia Baldwin (Music Teacher / Vocal Director), Tom Hamnet (Music Teacher), Emma Searle (Assistant Principal) and Tim de Jong (Director of Performing Arts).