Generations in Jazz Success

Over the past weekend 49 students took part in the national music competition Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier. 

Joining over 5000 students from across Australia, students in the Stage Band 1, Stage Band 2 and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble were immersed in a world of music including world class performances, performing on stage, connecting with music students from other schools and participation in workshops. 

All three of Trinity College ensembles performed exceptionally well! The Stage Band 1 took out second place in their division. After winning second place last year in the division below, the band worked incredible hard as they took on the challenge of going up to the next division. To achieve second place in the higher division is an unbelievable result for the band. Huge congratulations to Andrew Newhouse and his students. 

Stage Band 2 attended for the first time and played at their very best, doing themselves and the College proud! The adjudicator was impressed with their balance of sound as they performed with so much confidence under the wonderful direction on David Shigrov. Congratulations to Year 10 student and trumpet player Sebastian Curtis who had the honour of being selected for the super-band in their division. This is an incredible acknowledgment of his talent as only one of four trumpet players from across all schools who played in the division! 

The Jazz Vocal Ensemble finished just shy of placing in their division. They performed incredibly well and particular mention was made of their outstanding stage presence and sound. Performing a very challenging piece, these students did Trinity proud! Unfortunately impressing the wrong adjudicator (the adjudicator for the next section!) who made a particular effort to say how wonderful she thought the group was and that she would have scored them very highly! 

Special thanks to Andrew Newhouse and and David Shigrov for all the work they have been doing with the Stage Bands in the lead up to this event. We are very fortunately to have such a wonderful team of committed and talented staff who support our students to reach their potential in music. 

Thanks also to Michelle Seyfang, one of our amazing instrumental staff, who came along to support the students and staff on the trip as well as the wonderful Brink Smit who drove the bus for us. It was great to have you both part of the team!

Thank you to all staff across the College for supporting these students and the music program at Trinity. It was evident over the weekend that our students weren’t just amazing on stage, but also off stage. They are really great people who displayed respect, leadership and kindness throughout the weekend.

Another highlight of the weekend was a visit from the Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas MP who announced the state government will grant over $700k to the event next year. This event is getting bigger and better and is something very special that our students get to be a part of. 

Source: Kristy Triantafilakis, Director of Performing Arts