A Canadian group has never won the best high school combo at the Monterey Jazz Festival – until now.
Nanaimo's Kenton Dick and Ethan Olynyk, students in the Wellington Jazz Academy, became the first Canadians to win the category at the Next Generation Jazz Festival held earlier this month.
Not only has a Canadian never won a category but neither has an international group in the 45 years the festival has run.
“They played so amazing and to win it was completely surreal,” said Carmella Luvisotto, director of the Wellington Jazz Academy. “No international group has ever placed. No international group has ever won and in the history of the festival a duo has never won the combo category, the high school combo category. That's why it's so amazing.”
Dick and Olynyk not only won their category but were also both awarded outstanding soloist awards.
The duo was adjudicated by some of the best jazz musicians in the world. Judges included Ray Drummond, Tia Fuller, Helen Sung and James Tormé.
“We didn't realize the magnitude when we got them,” said Olynyk, about accepting the awards.
The duo said they felt honoured to win and can't wait to play during the main Monterey Jazz Festival held in September.
“It's amazing because of the groups that play there are the top in the world. They are the best jazz players around and we have passes to see all of that,” said Dick
Olynyk added that some of his main idols and influences are on the festival lineup.
The win has reassured both young musicians about their career paths.
“It's a firm career choice, nothing else. I've been pursuing music in what I thought would be a career in the future since Grade 8. I just don't really see myself doing anything else,” said Dick. “I can't see myself having fun doing anything else. For me I want to do a lot of performance and a lot of composition.”
Olynyk said it's a big confidence boost.
The first performance was a bit nerve-racking, said Dick.
For Olynyk the nerves were when he saw Grammy Award-winner Terri Lyne Carrington. She was “sitting a few rows back with paper and pen ready to jot down little things I messed up on,” he said.
“Instead she jotted down everything that she loved,” said Dick.
One of the songs the duo performed, Summer Down the Road, was an original written by Dick.
Dick and Olynyk have been playing together since Grade 8. Now Grade 12 students, the two are looking toward the horizon in terms of their music career. Both have been accepted to a number of post-secondary music schools in Canada and the United States.