12 May 2016
Our Jazz Orchestra featured at the Thredbo Jazz Festival as the youth band with performances that were nothing short of outstanding.
Jazz legend and drummer John Morrison led the group, letting audiences know they were from Manly Selective Campus and acknowledging our conductor, Craig, who had prepared them with many hours of music. Each performance was high energy and professional with a huge variety that kept the audiences cheering and back for more. Every one of the 28 band members shone with all sections and their soloists on fire and enjoying themselves. Especially riveting were the powerful and beautiful vocalists Marie Taneo, Alex Young, Taylor Rowe, Connor Lambrou and Mara Van Duyl, the duet performance by Connor and Ben Devries on guitar/ vocals and tenor sax, and feature saxophonists Hinano Fujisaki (alto), Toby Kovacs (baritone) and Robert Cantwell (alto). Alex Young, sporting a snappy red velvet jacket, got some great banter going with John Morrison (who secretly wished he had such a jacket) and the jokes flew.
The Thredbo Jazz Festival organisers looked after the group with great accommodation and food and gave our students the opportunity to hear and meet other jazz musicians throughout the weekend. JO learned a great deal from John Morrison's leadership and the experience of professional gigs. The band members came home tired and inspired!