The jazz prowess of Wellington Secondary School students earned them top honours during a recent festival.
The school’s Jazz Academy students attended the 46th Annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho earlier this week. The Grade 9 and 10 jazz band received the festivals highest honour when it was asked to perform on the festival main stage.
Kenton Dick, a Grade 9 alto saxophone player, was also asked to play at the Hamp’s Club, a showcase event of individual performers that are selected by a group of adjudicators because of their outstanding performances during competitions, prior to the evening concert.
Honourable mentions were also received by Ethan Olynyk, a Grade 9 drummer; Liam MacKay, a Grade 11 guitarist; Josh Rey, a Grade 12 bass and tenor saxophone player; Rachel Skeeles, a Grade 12 drummer; and Cameron Wong, a Grade 12 alto saxophone player.
The Wellington Secondary Jazz Academy will compete again this May during the West Coast Jazz Festival in Nanaimo and at Music Fest Canada in Toronto.