The Bairnsdale Secondary College Swing Band has continued its long-standing tradition of excellence with a highly successful trip to the 44th Merimbula Jazz Festival over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
The annual festival is a major calendar highlight for the ensemble, offering students the opportunity to immerse themselves in music, perform across four different venues, and participate in a specialised workshop with festival headliners, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Band.
The trip marked the debut festival performance for half of the current ensemble. Guitarists Maecey and Sonny, keyboardist and vocalist Annie, trombonist Cameron and percussionist Lila all joined the Swing Band at the beginning of the year, while Benji made a successful transition to the drums. The new recruits integrated seamlessly with experienced players Cody, Cooper, Tahlia-Rose, Emily and Benji, alongside college alumni Summer and Carlia, and music staff John, James, and Kim.
The ensemble drew large crowds of dedicated festival fans, who sought out the group for their polished and energetic stage presence. Audiences were treated to a diverse repertoire of swing, jazz, rock, and blues numbers, many of which were arranged by Band Leader James Newman. Individual solos from Emily, Cody, Cooper, Cameron, Summer and Benji received warm applause, with spectators consistently praising the students’ professionalism.
A major highlight of the weekend was an exclusive workshop led by RAN Band Leader Simon Bartlett. The rehearsal focused on two pieces: There Will Never Be Another You and Swung 16th Blues, an original composition by James Newman.
Members of the RAN Band sat alongside the Bairnsdale students and peers from Lightning Ridge Central School to provide direct mentorship. In front of a packed auditorium, Bartlett dissected the pieces section by section, focusing on ensemble tuning and timing. The workshop culminated in a powerful combined big band performance.
College vocal student Annie received special commendation from organisers for her courage in performing a solo during There Will Never Be Another You, embracing the pressure of live mentorship in front of the large crowd.
The successful trip further reinforces the high calibre of the instrumental music program at Bairnsdale Secondary College, proving once again that the local students can hold their own on the interstate festival stage.
