Generations in Jazz 2023

With much excitement, fifteen Carey music students and three staff members travelled to Mount Gambier in South Australia for the 34th annual Generations in Jazz festival on 4 May. 

It was the first in-person event since 2019 after it was cancelled because of the pandemic. It is a weekend of competitive adjudicated performances, concerts featuring international and national jazz and contemporary artists, workshops with these artists, and an amazing opportunity for 4000 like-minded music students from around Australia to come together to play music and be inspired. 

This year, Carey entered two bands in the Small Jazz Ensemble division and a choir in the Open Small Vocal Ensemble division. Results from the competition were very encouraging, with one ensemble receiving 2nd place overall (featuring Janelle, Ella, Ethan, Zac and special guest Daniel) and the other small ensemble and the choir receiving 5th placings.

Other memorable moments from the tour included the Saturday night concert featuring Swedish superband ‘Dirty Loops,’ the performances of guest artists Thando and Adam Lopez, Mr Florisson’s expert tour guide information and a day spent in Melbourne visiting the MCG and the DFOs at Spencer Street.

The students performed admirably and represented themselves and Carey beautifully, with Janelle and myself also being interviewed about the festival for ABC News and ABC local radio. 

The results from this year’s festival continue a strong tradition of excellence that our ensembles and students have delivered for many years. In previous years we have had big bands, small jazz ensembles and vocal ensembles win their divisions or place in the top three. Several students have been finalists in the James Morrison Scholarship, Australia’s premier and most lucrative award for young jazz musicians (former student Jayden Blockley won this prestigious award in 2019). 

Thank you to the Music staff that guided these students through many rehearsals and all the festival preparation (Miss Andrea Onamade, Mr Florisson and Mr Thompson). 

For a chance to hear these ensembles perform the pieces they presented in Mt Gambier, make sure you save the date of Thursday 29 June, when our students will take over the Ellington Jazz Club for one night!  More details to follow soon.      

– Mr Bruce Thompson | Head of Music

Results: 

Small Jazz Combo 1 (Someday Soon – Janelle Komakech, Ella Dawson, Zac Catalan, Ethan Ramirez, Daniel Grochowski)
2nd Place (out of 15 Ensembles)

Small Jazz Combo 2 (Hallelujah Selepe, Caitlin Fenwick, Charlie Breheney, Bailey Birt, Daniel Grochowski)
5th Place (out of 20 Ensembles)