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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-05-18 Daily Xml
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Generations in Jazz

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:15): On 7 May, I attended the 2016 Generations in Jazz at Mount Gambier, and I acknowledge that the member for Mount Gambier was present, although I did not see him. He could have been at the Rotary sausage sizzle, and that may have been why I missed him. I went along with the principal of Modbury High School, Mr Martin Rumsby.

The reason I go has been the same for the at least the past 15 years: to support Modbury High School, who were in the competition again this year. Eighteen students were accompanied by three staff: Ms Rosie Carr, the band conductor; Ms Joan Baker, who helps with all the musical extras and much more; and Mr Adrian Hitch, who drove the bus. Modbury High School is the only public school out of the 52 bands who competed in division 3 in both sections 1 and 2 that was not a special interest music school.

As we arrived, it was obvious that a bigger tent was in use, and there were more performance pavilions in use this year as well, named after such luminaries as Ed Wilson, James Morrison himself, Ross Irwin, the late Alan Scott, Rick Elliott, Ron Evans, and Graham Lyall. Word has spread since the James Morrison Academy made Mount Gambier its home, and it is to James Morrison and his connections to which all credit must go, as I believe Generations in Jazz has now become the largest event of its kind in the world.

The concerts are the highlight of the weekend and they welcome international acts. This year, we had Australia's own Kate Ceberano, The One O'Clock Lab Band, multi Grammy award-nominated Wycliffe Gordon, and The Idea of North, who were joined by Kaichiro Kitamura, James Morrison and Ross Irwin and a host of other Generations in Jazz alumni, musicians and vocalists in what I have been told was the most fantastic event ever. James tells us that The One O'Clock Lab Band has been the most legendary college band in the world for the past 70 years, having performed with jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Stan Getz, and at festivals like Montreux and Birdland in New York.

The results this year are as follows. In division 1, where nine bands were competing, first place went to Blackburn High in Victoria, with second place going to Marryatville in SA, and that rivalry continues. Unfortunately, Marryatville have let them have the march on them this year. Division 2 Section 1 first place went to Prince Alfred College—that might not be the South Australian school, but I do not have that on my results here. There were 14 bands in section 1. Section 2 had 15 bands, and it was won by Carey Baptist College in Western Australia.

Division 3, which had 26 bands in section 1, was topped by Eltham High in Victoria, and Division 2 had 26 bands, with Westbourne Grammar in Victoria winning that section. Modbury High School finished a very credible 14th out of the 25 bands in the section—one of them must not have shown up. Division 4 had 20 bands in Section 1, and was won by Macleod College from Victoria. Division 2 had 23 bands and was won by Lowther Hall from Victoria.

Division 5 had 31 bands, but I do not have those results. The full results are of course available at www.generationsinjazz.com.au. I must mention that, in the Vocal Ensemble Division 2, first place went to St Ignatius College in South Australia. This year's James Morrison Jazz Scholarship went to the ACT's Matt Nicholls and the Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship went to Kayleigh Pincott from Queensland. Generations in Jazz has become an iconic South Australian event. Hundreds of people turn up, with more than 160 bands who participate in this unique, as James puts it, 'passing-it-on jazz tradition.'

Our thanks must go to James Morrison and all involved in both the musical side and administration arm. From modest beginnings, overseen by the early boards of Generations in Jazz and Karen Roberts, who for me was the face of Generations in Jazz from the time I began going, we have something that gets better and bigger every time it is staged. Special thanks must go to all the sponsors, far too many to name but they are on the website, and the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers who make sure everything runs so smoothly, from feeding the hundreds and hundreds of participants to making sure rehearsal spaces are available and ensuring that the performance spaces are ready for competition, and everything else in between.

On behalf of Modbury High School, I want to thank the instrumental music service for, without the input of these highly skilled and dedicated musical teachers, schools such as Modbury High would not be able to receive such a high standard of tuition that sees them able to compete at such an elite level.

While on the topic of bands, the Band of South Australia Police was in London just the day before yesterday at the spectacular event held at Windsor Castle to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. The only other Australian band invited to appear was the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia. Kylie Minogue also appeared on the program and she was happy to see that two of her songs had been included in the band's medley of musical items. We should be so very proud of both bands and, when they come home, make sure that we take them into our hearts and perhaps give them the key to the city. I think they deserve something as good as that.

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