Westminster Music Hits Jazz High Note

Westminster has once again affirmed its standing as a national leader in school-based jazz, with the Westminster Senior Jazz Ensemble securing first place in its category at the prestigious Generations in Jazz festival in Mount Gambier over the weekend.

Bringing together more than 4500 students from across Australia, Generations in Jazz is a landmark national stage band and vocal jazz competition. It continues to be a highlight on the Westminster music calendar, offering students the chance to perform, collaborate and learn from some of the finest musicians in the country.

A 35-student strong contingent proudly represented the School across two Big Bands and a Small Jazz Ensemble, delivering impressive performances throughout the three-day event.

The Senior Jazz Ensemble’s category-winning performance earned recognition as one of the top small jazz combos in the country. Vibraphone player Jack Parkinson said the win was amazing, yet unexpected.

“A lot of time and effort goes into preparing for Generations in Jazz, and at some point, your brain switches into ‘jazz mode’, and you start to look at jazz music and improvisation from a new perspective. The final week before GIJ is when that happened for me, and it helped me to perform a lot better on the Saturday,” he said.

“Generations in Jazz isn’t just about playing to win, it’s about the experience, and that’s something I wish I’d known on my first year. Coming back a second year and trying to have more fun between performances really made the event a lot more wholesome.”

Among the festival’s standout achievements were four Westminster students selected for the renowned Generations in Jazz Superbands — an honour that places them among the nation’s top young jazz musicians. Congratulations to Henry Ruckert (tenor saxophone), Hugh Smith (tenor saxophone), Janet Wang (trombone) and Hudson Donnelley (trumpet) on this exceptional recognition. Notably, this marks a second consecutive year of selection for both Hugh and Janet, highlighting their remarkable musical growth.

Westminster’s Big Band 1 earned second place in its division, following its first-place result in the same category last year — a testament to the depth and consistency of the School’s jazz program.

Director of Performance and Co-curricular Music Mike Degenhart commended the students for their outstanding efforts.

“To be recognised across multiple categories, including a win with the Senior Jazz Ensemble and having four students selected in the Superbands speaks volumes about the dedication and the culture of excellence we foster in music at Westminster. It was a truly memorable weekend and one I am sure the students will remember for some time.”

Students Hugh, Janet and Hudson also participated in a 90-minute Superband rehearsal led by internationally renowned jazz trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, before performing on the main stage at Sunday’s final concert to an audience of over 5,000 — a defining moment in their musical journeys.

Saturday night’s program featured an electrifying headline performance by the world-famous Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band, giving students and staff a rare opportunity to experience international jazz excellence in a regional setting.

Westminster Music Captain Sarah Gomez reflected on the weekend as one of connection and inspiration.

“The hours of practice we put in leading up to the weekend and focusing on how we sound as an ensemble has helped me grow so much as a musician,” she said.

“It was really good to reconnect with friends I’ve made at past festivals and meet music students from all over the country. Watching so many amazing schools perform was incredibly inspiring.”

Sarah also encouraged younger Westminster students to take part in future years.

“Try to join an ensemble that goes to Generations in Jazz. It’s such a fun weekend away and brings all the Westminster music students a lot closer together.”