Students in Wellington Jazz Academy can blow their horns for their performance at the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival because they were the best at – well, blowing their horns at the festival last weekend in Kelowna.
The Grade 9 jazz band came tops in its category to earn a spot in the evening concert in front of a packed audience at the Kelowna Community Center Theatre. Grade 12 vocalist Taylor Manns and her quartet consisting of Josh Rey, Natasha Hoskins and Charlotte Gunn also won their category and performed at the showcase.
Individual award winners included Manns for most outstanding female vocalist and 35 per cent Berklee Jazz Camp Award; Amy McCartie for runnerup female vocalist; Rey for most outstanding senior woodwind soloist and 25 per cent Berklee Jazz Camp Award; Hoskins won a Capilano College $1,500 Entrance Scholarship; Ethan Olynyk for most outstanding junior rhythm player and received $125 in cash; Kenton Dyck for most outstanding junior woodwind player, receiving a full scholarship to the Kelowna Summer Jazz Camp and $125 in cash.