Important dates
Big Band Sunsets
Festival Overview
In February 2006 MoJO (the Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra) produced a series of free Saturday evening outdoor swing dances beside the beautiful Mordialloc Creek. MoJO were overwhelmed by the attendance and community support for these and are now aiming to make these an annual event.
In 2007 there will be an expansion of the event that will see Big Band Sunsets include jazz scholarships, local school band performances and an afternoon ‘open stage’ for all aspiring Kingston jazz, blues and folk musicians.
Each Saturday in February entertainment will commence on the Hazel Pierce Reserve, cnr Beach Rd and Nepean Highway, at 4.30pm. The events conclude with a 2 hour swing dance from 7pm (using the huge, purpose built, Big Band Sunsets dance floor)
featuring Mordialloc’s fabulous 30 piece Big Band, MoJO. You can bring your rug and hamper and settle in for a fantastic afternoon and evening of free entertainment. Each Saturday will have a different theme for the swing dance.
Feb 3rd The festival commences with a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment provided by local musicians on the Big Band Sunsets ‘OPEN STAGE’. The Swing Dance will be a tribute to the great era of the big bands and will feature all your favourite
tunes from big band legends such as Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and many more.
Feb 10th The afternoon’s entertainment commences with the OPEN STAGE and then introduces the first entrant in the newest part of the festival, the ‘SCHOOLS STAGE’. The Swing Dance is a tribute to the jazz singers
and will feature several guest vocalists performing tunes by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, The Andrews Sisters, Lena Horne, Robbie Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jnr and many more. A highlight of the evening
will be a complete showcase set from the internationally acclaimed Australian Blues Brothers Show who will be backed by the entire 30 piece MoJO.
Feb 17th Following an OPEN STAGE segment in the afternoon, the final participants in the SCHOOLS STAGE section will perform.
The theme for the evening dance is ‘Latin Carnivale’. If you like to tango, salsa or samba this evening is one that you must not miss.
Latin rhythms have been featured in big bands since the 1930’s and MoJO will present the very best of latin jazz. There’ll be plenty of great
vocal songs and a carnivale atmosphere that will make you think that you’re in Rio!
Feb 24th is the day when Kingston welcomes Australia’s internationally renowned jazz great, John Morrison. John will work with the school groups during the day,
assist in the judging of the Kingston jazz scholarships and then play a fabulous showcase set with his quintet during the evening dance. Throughout the afternoon you will hear
the best of the best of our local talent with performances by all scholarship finalists and a special performance of the Big Band Sunsets Workshop Band, led by John Morrison.
The winners of all competitive sections of the festival will be announced during the evening dance. The Big Band Sunsets series for 2007 will conclude with all your favourite tunes from MoJO and,
with a bit of luck, John Morrison himself may actually sit in with the band to create a spectacular finale!
MoJO / Kingston Jazz Improvising Scholarship
MoJO and the City of Kingston are proud to announce the inaugural MoJO / City of Kingston Jazz Scholarship. This will be part of the Big Band Sunsets series of concerts
that will take place on each Saturday in February 2007 at the Hazel Pierce Park, cnr Beach Rd and Nepean H’way, Mordialloc. Instrumental musicians of any age who currently participate
in a music program (school or community band) within the City of Kingston will compete by demonstrating their jazz improvising ability.
Applications are initially by a clearly labelled and submitted audition CD or tape (non-returnable). This should include:
- 12 bar blues
- ballad (or own choice) - max. five mins each
- Please also include a brief written resume
The closing date for applications is 26th January, 2007. All applicants will be contacted by no later than 3rd February. Four finalists will be selected and must be available to attend final
adjudication during the Big Band Sunsets final concert on February 24th, 2007.
Finalists will each perform two contrasting tunes with a MoJO backing combo as part of the final concert’s afternoon entertainment on 24th February, 2007.
Adjudication will be based entirely upon this performance and will be decided by a panel led by the Australian jazz great John Morrison and also including the festival music director and associate music director.
Eligibility
Any musician currently enrolled in a school or college within the City of Kingston or any member of any of Kingston’s four bands may apply for this scholarship.
Under exceptional circumstances other applicants may be accepted at the discretion of the Festival Director.
Prize
The winner will be presented with a perpetual trophy and a $400 voucher from leading music education retailer Future Music. This is intended to assist the winner in furthering their musical journey.
Please
send applications to:
The Festival Director
Big Band Sunsets
P.O. Box 5344
Mordialloc, 3195
Opportunities for Schools
An exciting opportunity exists for school performing groups to become involved in the 2007 Big Band Sunsets Festival. The festival takes place beside the beautiful Mordialloc Creek in the Hazel Pierce Park,
cnr Beach Rd and Nepean H’way, Mordialloc. On the afternoons of February 10th & 17th a “schools’ stage” will be made available to spotlight the fabulous musical talent that exists in local schools. School music ensembles of all
ages are invited to perform a program of any length, up to thirty minutes, in the enthusiastic and supportive environment that exists in Kingston’s fabulous Big Band Sunsets Festival.
And, thanks to the generous support of the City of Kingston and the International Association for Jazz Education, there is no cost for entry into the festival.
Participating schools ensembles will receive:
- A plaque that recognises their involvement in the festival
- A DVD recording of their performance
- The opportunity for ensemble members and leaders to participate in a workshop, free of charge, with Australian Jazz great, John Morrison on either Feb 23rd or 24th.
- Publicity in the local press and in the City of Kingston’s publications
- Most importantly, the warm support of their fellow musicians
- In addition, one school ensemble will be awarded the “Outstanding Performance” award
MoJO’s Big Band Sunsets stage, a drum kit, piano, bass amplifier, congas, vibraphone, extensive PA & lighting system and music stands will all be available for use by schools.
Unfortunately there will be limited spaces available for school groups. Demand is expected to be high so please contact the Festival Director, Stuart Petchey, as soon as possible to secure your place in the festival.
He can be contacted on 9580 3515 or email: pecci@optusnet.com.au . If you have any queries of a musical nature please do not hesitate to call the Festival Music Director, Peter Foley on 81026164 or 0401 063267.
MoJO, IAJE, and the City of Kingston are proud to offer this opportunity to young musicians and we hope that you will consider it seriously. By so doing, you will help to ensure the ongoing profile of music in our community.
Big Band Sunsets Arranger’s Scholarship
MoJO are proud to announce the creation of an exciting new scholarship as part of the Big Band Sunsets series of concerts. These concerts will take place on each Saturday in February 2007 at the Hazel Pierce Park, cnr Beach Rd and Nepean H’way, Mordialloc.
This scholarship has been established to assist the career of an emerging writer / arranger who will create a musical arrangement of a jazz standard tune. The arrangement will cater for flexible instrumentation as may be found in community concert bands,
brass bands and jazz ensembles such as MoJO. All musically related questions as to the appropriateness of arranging styles, instrumentation etc. should be directed to the Festival Associate Music Director,
David Coughran-Lane, on 0412 565060. It is hoped that this scholarship may play a significant part in developing a library of available music for community ensembles similar to MoJO.
Competition
Applicants will submit a copy (paper or digital/electronic) of their arrangement for the consideration of the judging panel. The closing date for applications is January 26th, 2007.
The panel will select up to four arrangements for performance by MoJO and final judging. This judging (by a panel lead by Australian jazz great John Morrison) will take place on the final
evening of the Big Band Sunsets series of concerts on February 24th, 2007. Finalist arrangers will be given the opportunity to rehearse their work with MoJO on either Wednesday 14th or 21st February.
All applicants will be advised of the initial selection by no later than 2nd February. All printed arrangement will be available for return by arrangement with the Festival Director.
Eligibility & Prize
Any school or tertiary enrolled student may submit arrangements for consideration. The winning arranger will be presented with a perpetual trophy as well as a
cash award of three hundred dollars that is intended to assist the winner further their writing career.
Entry Details
Please submit your arrangement along with a brief resume (including details of your current course; applicants who completed in a tertiary degree in 2006 are still eligible) to:
The Festival Director
Big Band Sunsets
P.O. Box 5344
Mordialloc, 3195
or email: pecci@optusnet.com.au
Big Band Sunsets ‘OPEN STAGE’
MoJO is pleased to announce an initiative that will allow Kingston residents the opportunity to perform their Jazz, Blues or Folk music in a structured and supportive environment.
An “Open Stage” element will be introduced into the 2007 Big Band Sunsets concert series. These concerts will take place on each Saturday in February 2007 at the Hazel Pierce Park, cnr
Beach Rd and Nepean H’way, Mordialloc. Performers of all levels are invited to put themselves forward for selection to gain a place on the stage during the afternoons of February 3rd, 10th & 17th.
Performers may be solo, duo or a band. The type of audience they will play to is mixed age and has a preference for Jazz, Blues or Folk music. MoJO’s Big Band Sunsets stage, a drum kit, piano, bass amplifier, congas, vibraphone,
extensive PA & lighting system and music stands will all be available for use by performers. There is no cost to the performers for inclusion in the festival, nor will they receive payment.
Application
Groups should apply directly to the Festival Director by submitting the completed application form and, if possible, a tape or CD. Please mail this to Stuart Petchey, Festival Director, P.O. Box 5344, Mordialloc, 3195 as soon as possible to secure your place in the festival.
If you have any queries about submitting your application, Stuart can be contacted on 9580 3515 or email: pecci@optusnet.com.au . If you have any queries of a musical nature please do not hesitate to call the Festival Music Director, Peter Foley on 81026164 or 0401 063267.
Selection of artists will be at the discretion of a small committee led by the Festival Music Director. Applications must be received no later than January 19th, 2007, however preference will be given to early applications.
There will be a guaranteed entry to any eligible act that contains at least one member who has completed their secondary schooling in 2006.
Important Contacts:
Festival Director:
Stuart Petchey
- P.O. Box 5344
- Mordialloc, 3195
- Ph. (03) 9580 3515
- email: pecci@optusnet.com.au
Festival Musical Director:
Peter Foley
- Ph. (03) 8102 6164
- 0401 063267
- email: peter.foley@wesleycollege.net
Festival Associate Musical Director:
Dave Coughran-Lane
- Ph. 0412 565060
- email: bleedinggumsdave@hotmail.com
Important Dates:
19th Jan, 2007 Final date for OPEN STAGE applications
26th Jan, 2007 Final date for Jazz Scholarship & Arranging Scholarship applications
3rd Feb, 2007 1st Concert – OPEN STAGE & Tribute to the Big Bands Swing Dance
10th Feb, 2007 2nd Concert – OPEN STAGE, SCHOOLS STAGE section 1 & Tribute to the Big Band Singers Swing Dance including the Blues Brothers Tribute Show
17th Feb, 2007 3rd Concert – OPEN STAGE, SCHOOLS STAGE section 2 & ‘Latin Carnivale’ Swing Dance
24th Feb, 2007 4th Concert – Big Band Sunsets Workshop Band with John Morrison, Jazz Scholarship Finalist performances, performances of the Arranging Scholarship finalist charts, John Morrison Quintet performance, announcement of Festival winners & Big Band Favourites Swing Dance
Please contact the festival directors for more information and apllication forms.
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