BTS Jazz Competition Results

Written By: Edward Solomon Comments: 0

Sunday 11 June 2006 saw the final of the BTS Jiggs Whigham Jazz Trombone Competition at Uppingham School. This was the Society's first competition for many years and was hosted by BTS Education Officer and Head of Brass at Uppingham School, Stewart Drummond. The venue was the Recital Room in Uppingham's impressive new Music School, which was an ideal venue in every way. The adjudicators were Jiggs Whigham, Jeremy Price (Head of Jazz Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire and jazz trombonist), Stewart Drummond and Chris Houlding (principal trombone, Opera North and senior trombone tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music). The competitors were accompanied by an excellent trio consisting of Alan Savage (drums), Zoltan Dekany (bass) and Jason Ashworth (piano). Five finalists came to Rutland and they were all treated to an afternoon of workshops given by Jiggs and Jeremy. Elements of improvisation and performing skills were covered in opening talks by each of the two educators, followed by a masterclass, which gave each finalist an opportunity to perform and have their improvisation skills honed by Jiggs and Jeremy. The more formal element of the competition took place in the evening, when the competitors each performed their set works: a standard tune and a blues, both to include set numbers of improvised choruses. The adjudicators sat amongst the audience to listen to the whole concert and withdrew at the end to consider their verdicts, whilst the trio entertained both audience and competitors. The judges decided to award two prizes, the first prize to be the Jiggs Whigham King 2B Trombone and a lesson with Jiggs at the International Trombone Festival in Birmingham, the second prize a lesson with Jiggs at the International Trombone Festival. The panel also gave honorable mention to the three remaining finalists. Results First Prize: Robbie Harvey Second Prize: Tom White Honorable Mentions Ben Deerey, Kieran Joy and Alistair Burrows

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