Ben Mcintyre, Elan van Dolleweerd, Harry Donald and Max RobbMarkham (myself) got this wonderful opportunity
47th National Youth Jazz Festival Competition 2025
The 47th National Youth Jazz Festival Competition was held from the 7th to 9th of April in Tauranga. Four students from Rutherford college participated in the National Youth Jazz Festival as part of the Liston-Rutherford Jazz Ensemble. Ben Mcintyre, Elan van Dolleweerd, Harry Donald and Max RobbMarkham (myself) got this wonderful opportunity. This was the first time the jazz band has gone to this event and it was a new and engaging experience for us. Over the two days we were there we got to spend time not only bonding as a band but observing and sitting in on some of the best youth jazz bands in New Zealand and also had the rewarding experience of playing on a national stage.Thank you to Chat Davenport and Liston College Music department for making this happen.
The band only had eleven weeks to prepare four songs. We were under pressure to meet the national performance standard when normally our first and only competition for the year happens in early Term Three. With the superb training of conductor Chat Davenport, the band managed to pull through and deliver an outstanding performance on the day. We not only scored a silver rating but were also given the award for the “Best first performance band”. This award signifies that of all the bands who were competing for the first time, our performance was the best. This was indeed a huge achievement.
On Monday evening there was also a workshop on how to run a jam session. The class was very interesting and truly stripped back the idea of a jam session and then showed how to use individual elements to create a fun and groovy jam session. The majority of the workshop was theory and just explaining how to but at the end there was an opportunity to get up and play. There were seven of us on stage and, although we had never met each other before, almost instantly we were jamming and trading solos back and forth. Then the adjudicator for the event, who was also running the workshop, suddenly came up on stage and did a solo. He indicated for me to perform a solo with him and we ended up having an amazing duet.
My time at the festival was an unforgettable mix of disbelief and awe. The festival definitely ignited my passion for Jazz even more. Being surrounded by other like minded people is always amazing and valuable and helps you to keep growing in the space you’re in. Talking to other students at the festival was really cool and you couldn’t find two people with the same story of how they got into jazz. Aside from the festival, having a trip with the band was really fun and brought all of us closer together. We’re looking forward to the rest of the year and excited for whatever opportunities and surprises it brings with it.
Event can be viewed at
https://www.youtube.com/live/s5sUeVLv0Cs?si=vzhlq4E4m7O2FF9Q
Liston Jazz Band starts at 3:51:35
Max RobbMarkham
1st Tenor Saxophone Player
